By Scotsgran
Scotland 
Can anyone tell me what is doing this damage to my white martagon lily seed pods. Could it be the thing hiding in the second photo. I did not see it when I took the photo. When I downloaded them to the computer I thought this looks like a beetle. I rushed outside but it had gone so I cut the stem and have it hanging upside down in a paper bag in the hope that the seeds will ripen. I'd welcome any help available. Fingers crossed its not a lily beetle.
25 Sep, 2012
Answers
Thank you Owdboggy. That is a relief. Can you tell me if the seeds will ripen now that I have taken them inside and hung them to dry out.
25 Sep, 2012
they are best left in the pod to ripen until the pop starts to go brown. but they may do still.
i also think probably snails etc.
25 Sep, 2012
If ours ever ripen I should have martagon seeds, Scotsgran, both white and purple.
25 Sep, 2012
Thank you Sbg I left quite a long stem on when I cut it and hoped the seeds would ripen in the pods as they dry out. If mine fail to ripen Bb I would be grateful for some seed. I believe they can be quite slow to flower after they germinate.
25 Sep, 2012
I will have the dusky pink ones for seed if you'd like some. Just send me a pm. they took 5 yrs in my case to flower.
26 Sep, 2012
Thank you Sbg. I will advise you if my white seed dry. There seems to be a lot of seeds in the pods.
26 Sep, 2012
Previous question
« WHEN LOBELIA HAS FINISHED FLOWERING SHOULD THEY BE CUT TO GROUND
Certainly not a Lily beetle, they are bright red and beetle shaped. That looks more like a mite than anything else.
The damage is as likely to be snail as anything else. They have munched their way through a lot of seed pods this year.
25 Sep, 2012