Another picture:

Excellent!

I can't tell what size that fly-like insect is, but the parasitic wasp is supposed to be 'ant sized' - which actually doesn't mean much since ants vary so much in size. Did you try google images?

Now I'm not sure. It doesn't look exactly like the wasp on URI's site, but my lilies look so good especially compared to last year when some of them got very badly damaged. It could just be the early picking but I got busy and haven't even looked in weeks. I only saw one beetle and some eggs when I looked again this morning. Maybe I can send a picture of the wasp (if that's what it is) to URI.

The insect is pretty small but bigger than a sugar ant and smaller than a carpenter ant.

I went out with measuring tape. Wings included the look to be approximately 1/4 inch.

On second look, that looks like a fly rather than a wasp.

Darn. :(

Cheleinri, my lilies are also surprisingly "clean" this year and I wondered if I'm lucky enough to have T. setifer in my yard. Hard to tell. I believe that the main problem with identification is that these are so small. So I kind of agree that what you have on yours is too large--- maybe just a regular fly cleaning up the leftovers?

I've included one link that shows this paristoid.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lily Leaf Beetle Tracker

And here's another view that kind of shows better how tiny and delicate this critter is. I have seen small "wasps" flying around but don't know if they're the good ones or not. Does anyone have experience with T. setifer in their gardens?

Here is a link that might be useful: Lily Leaf Beetle tracker

The insects are really small- smaller than a housefly though I'm sure there many types of little flies. They don't seem to have antennae though. All I know is there's a marked difference in damage this year, so whatever is different I'm very glad and also glad to hear molie is also having a good year. I hope it is predators and not just a weather thing or something else temporary. I know URI is taking larvae samples for testing which may be the best way to ID if you have this tiny insect. You just mail them and they let you know the results.

This page has a video of the wasp laying eggs into the larvae. It also gives a good pic of what the wasp looks like.

Steve

Here is a link that might be useful: URI Biocontrol Lily Leaf Beetle

Thanks, Steve, for the link. Now it's pretty obvious how tiny these wasps are when compared to the small RLB larvae!

For sure I won't be able to "see" these good guys and that mailing in the larvae is the only way to confirm their presence. Funny thing, though---- so far I haven't seen any droppings on my lilies.

Molie