Anybody a Gardener? I'm not running into a stone wall on this, but rather getting conflicting answers. We have lilies of different types that bloom at different times. I suspect the...

niteman3d Loc: South Central Pennsylvania, USA

I'm not running into a stone wall on this, but rather getting conflicting answers. We have lilies of different types that bloom at different times. I suspect the upcoming buds are tiger lilies. Several of the various types have a fuzz on the buds that looks kind of like a spider's work. One source says it's aphids, but we never see any actual bugs of any kind on them. Yet another source says that it's part of the lily and is normal. Anybody know?

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CliffB Loc: Bristol UK

niteman3d wrote:

I'm not running into a stone wall on this, but rather getting conflicting answers. We have lilies of different types that bloom at different times. I suspect the upcoming buds are tiger lilies. Several of the various types have a fuzz on the buds that looks kind of like a spider's work. One source says it's aphids, but we never see any actual bugs of any kind on them. Yet another source says that it's part of the lily and is normal. Anybody know?

It looks like the web created by spider mites, they are very small (1/8th of a pin head) and can be difficult to see. They prefer warm dry conditions, frequent misting will discourage them. They are usually much more of a pest indoors or in glasshouses where natural predators aren't present. Hope this helps
Cliff

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

If you have a garden center nearby, they should know.

Caribou Loc: St. Louis, MO

Try spraying Neem oil on the flowers. It's non-toxic. It smothers the aphids or mites, etc.

MrMophoto Loc: Rhode Island "The biggest little"

It does look like spider mites and the suggestion to refer to a local garden center of plant nursery is one I would make, But, not a Lowes or Home Depot

niteman3d Loc: South Central Pennsylvania, USA

Thanks everybody, you seem to agree with the consensus on an insect source... but first I think I'll play around and discover whether I can see them with a micro lens or not. Maybe I can get a picture before I break up their happy home?

CliffB Loc: Bristol UK

You could look for tiny pin prick sized brown areas on the underside of some of the lower leaves, this is typical spider mite damage. On the lowest leaves you may find some yellowish damage coming onto the top surface of the leaves.
Clif

niteman3d Loc: South Central Pennsylvania, USA

CliffB wrote:

You could look for tiny pin prick sized brown areas on the underside of some of the lower leaves, this is typical spider mite damage. On the lowest leaves you may find some yellowish damage coming onto the top surface of the leaves.
Clif

Well, I took the trusty magnifying glass out and did spot one, so I took the 1:1 lens out and stood waiting for a while with no success. I was trying the Nikon micro lens adapted to a Z50 handheld, but methinks I'm too old and shaky for that foolishness, so I switched to the D7500 on a swivel footed monopod. Much better steadiness, but no target, so I'll continue looking in hopes of getting lucky. I did snag this fly, but he's about twenty times the size of that mite I spotted:

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hcmcdole

May be leaf hoppers. I get them on my tiger lilies. Kind of an ugly bug once you get the fuzz off of them.

The adults will move to the other side of a stem but if you spray water or insecticide they hop off the stem to another stem.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

CliffB wrote:

...this is typical spider mite damage.

Yes, it might be mites.