The lilies are doing well this year in the garden. I am seduced by the cheap packs of bulbs I see in the UK after Christmas. I haven’t really a plan of where they should go.
Its easier to find a place for them in the winter when you have forgotten what other perennials you have planted and it looks as if the place is empty. I don’t regret squeezing them in as their perfume is mingling with the second flowering of the Wisteria and filling the garden with perfume. I never see much interesting life on them: the odd spider or fly – certainly no bees!
I was so surprised to see this dull moth sitting on one of the lilies sipping nectar!
Then I saw the orange flash. I had never seen a hummingbird hawk moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) at rest on a flower.
This moth had worked out that it could expend much less energy at rest on the lily and still reach the nectar.
He still couldn’t resist the odd hover from time to time.
The moth spent a few minutes on the lily and seemed to be enjoying it as a nectar source. I had always thought that the lilies either had poor nectar or they were not recognised as nectar sources because they are “exotic”.
What are other gardeners experiences with lilies? Do you get interesting critters on your lilies (maybe bees :))?
a french garden 
I’m afraid the lily beetles ate my few lilies, so I can’t offer any sensible opinion. Interesting photos of insect behaviour, as always.
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Sorry about your lilies, my sister warned me about those. I think I am very isolated here from any other lilies that might be infected.
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I’ve never seen a humming bird hawk moth not hovering so that is very interesting. Some night flying moths were attracted to my Longiflorum -White American Lilies whose perfume was definately stronger at night so must be to attract moths.
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That’s very interesting. I keep meaning to try and have a look at night flying moths here but summer is very hectic with the garden and family visits and just other summer things.
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I dont have any lilies in the garden, but do have Hummingbird Hawk Moths – they love the red valerian, and buddlia – and are blinking tricky to photograph!
I like the contrast of the exotic, colourful interior of the lily and the monotone moth.
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Ours love the valerian and budleia too, they are one of my garden favourites.
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Every year I think I’d like some lillies, and every year we forget to get some!
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In my sandy soil they come up year after year, so are a great investment – especially if you see some reduced at the end of the planting season!
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I’ve only seen the hummingbird moth in flight. Smart little guy there to do the energy math and decide to land for dinner.
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I’m perhaps putting thoughts into his head. It just occurred to me that it was a very energy expensive way to collect nectar. It appears rare that they sit and sip.
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Beautiful lilies and an interesting visitor 😀
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Thank you, they are very generous with their perfume and last well indoors.
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I’ve spent far too many minutes trying to capture hummingbird hawk moths on the wing… I need some lilies! Lovely photos.
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This may be a fluke. I’ve never seen it do this before so I was wondering what other peoples experiences were both with the Hawkmoth and the lilies.
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I seldom see any bug on the lilies, and usually they are flies.
Nice photos.
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This has been my experience. Flies seem to go for whatever it secretes. No hope of beautiful pictures of bees inside lilies it seems.
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Nice photos! We’ve had the red lily leaf beetle here (Lilioceris lilii.) It’s a European insect that has devastated the lily crop in this area. Since I don’t like to spray I gave up on lilies even though they are one of my favorites.
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That is so sad. Another “nasty” invading and spoiling. I believe they are very difficult to control and the best method is to pick them off the plant and squash them after spreading a white cloth under the plant as they drop upside down and you cannot see them on the soil! I do not think there is an effective chemical control.
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I think lilies look beautiful, but I haven’t planted any lilies because the perfume seems to trigger my allergies. However, when I first came to this house there were belldonna lilies already in the garden; remnants of a much older garden that was here before our modern house was built. I didn’t mind them but they seem to have disappeared. Didn’t see them last year anyway. I am curious about the edibility of lilies? Have you ever eaten them? I haven’t been brave enough to try.
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I sympathise with your allergy problem, their perfume is very strong. I have daylilies in the garden but I have never tried to eat them. I think the only way I would try them is if I got the bulbs from someone who kept them for eating. I would be too scared to “have a go” at something if I was not positive of its identity. It would be intriguing growing them to eat – they certainly form clumps very quickly.
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Yes, I would want a trusted source too if I were to try them as food. By the way I learned about leaf cutter bees today. Do you have any of those?
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I am desperate to see leaf cutter bees. I keep looking in my bee hotels to see if any of the holes get filled up with leaves or petals but no luck so far. Some of the plant leaves have very suspicious looking holes but I’ve not seen any bees cutting them. I’m still keeping my eyes open.
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It will be exciting when they eventually turn up!
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Beautiful!
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Thank you! Lilies are very beautiful flowers.
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Lovely pics – I used to have Lilium martagon and they were quite popular with insects and butterflies and unfortunately with lily beetles too 😦
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Just checked Lilium martagon out – it is beautiful! It is also native to eastern France so that could explain its popularity with the insects. I’ll have to keep my eyes open for those.
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I saw a hummingbird hawkmoth the other day but he’d zipped away before I could get my camera. Just lots of lily beetles on my lilies, I’m afraid. Gross creatures. Incidentally, there were no lilies when I started at the Priory and for a year or two I was beetle free. But they tracked me down in the end. Dave
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Oh dear, perhaps I’m gloating too soon! I’d like to keep the garden a lily beetle free zone.
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Terrific pics of the hummingbird hawk moth. I’ve never managed to get one so close / focused. And lovely lilies. Cheapo packs of bulbs have their place – a bit hit and miss, but what comes up is often a nice surprise…
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You usually need a very fast speed but it was the first time I have seen one at rest.
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I love lillies — such exotic colors and wonderful perfume. Nothing (insects, that is) seems to pay much attention to my lillies, so I am impressed that you had a HB hawkmoth that actually sat still. They usually dart here and there, keeping themselves out of focus of my lens. Nice work!
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So far everyone seems to agree that lilies don’t attract much more than flies.
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Spectacular photographs. I’ve just moved and brought some of my lilies with me. Now I’m trying to figure out where to plant them.
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That is my worse problem is where to put the things I want. Every thing deserves a good spot but I cannot keep too much under control.
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My lilies are superb this year. I have never seen a Humming Bird Hawk moth settle, they always seem to be on the wing!
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It seems a good year for lilies, they are getting the heat just when they need it.
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Amelia I love the shot of his curled proboscis!
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Thank you, they are such cute moths.
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I have to go out and study my lilies, but they are old and simple ones. Now it is raining, so probably nobody there. Interesting as always.
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Perhaps if you have old simple lilies they will be more welcoming to wildlife than my exotic ones.
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