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Further vernacular names:

Scarlet Lily Beetle, Red Lily Beetle

Classification:

Lilioceris lilii belongs to the subfamily Criocerinae, tribe Criocerini.

Distribution:

Palearctic; introduced into North America.

Habitat:

In light, sunny lime forests and montane tall forb communities; also in gardens, parks and nurseries.

Description:

Length 6.0 - 8.0 mm; head, legs and underside black; pronotum and elytra red.

Biology:

The Lily Leaf Beetle Lilioceris lilii forms one generation per year in Central Europe.
The adults and larvae live on plants of the lily family (Liliaceae). They feed on the leaves of Lilium (lilies), Fritillaria (e. g. chess flower) and Cardiocrinum (giant lilies).
The well flying adults emerge from their winter shelters in April. After mating, the females lay the eggs on the undersides of the leaves of their host plants along the midrib in rows of 2 - 15 pieces each. The oviposition can last until September. A female lays a total of about 200 - 300 eggs. 4 to 10 days after oviposition, the larvae hatch. The larvae pass through 4 larval stages, go into the ground to pupate and pupate in a cocoon. 10 - 20 days later, from the end of June the new generation hatches. After a maturation feeding the beetles retreat into the ground for hibernation.

References, further reading, links:

1. Rheinheimer, Joachim, & Hassler, Michael: Die Blattkäfer Baden-Württembergs, 2018, 928 pages, Kleinsteuber Books (Karlsruhe), ISBN 978-3-9818110-2-5
2. Arved Lompe: Die Käfer Europas - Ein Bestimmungswerk im Internet