Middletown transcript., 1907-05-25
THE ASPARAGUS BEETLES
Information of their Life Histories and
Remedies


BY far the most serious injury to aspar-
agus in this State is occasioned by two
species OF email beetles which belong to
the family CHRYsoMELIDE. or the leaf
beetles. The more common of the two
species, and the one responsible for prac-
tically all Of the injury at the present
time, has black wing:covers with red or
yellow markings; the thorax. or second
section OF the body is red with black dots.
The ether species, ~l,ieh is called HE
l2'spotted asparagus beetle, is uniformly
reddish in color and has upon its wing.
covers II black spots. Both measure
about one-fourth o. an inch in length.
Both Of these beetles are introductions
from Europe, the former having heen
introduced about so years ago, and the
latter being first found in this country
about 25 years ago.
Life History
The life history of the two species
is similar in many repects, differing
only in minor details; SO only the more
common Of the two species will here
be considered.
The winter is passed in the adult stage
in sheltered situations, as in piles of rub.
bish, or under sticks and stones in the
fields. Late in April or early in May
the beetles come forth from their winter
quarters and begin to deposit their eggs
for the first brood These are laid end
wise upon the developing asparagus stalks
usually in rows of ffromtwo to six or more.
They are about three times as long as wide,
and are dark brown in color. These eggs
soon hatch, and the larvae begin to feed,
maturing in about two weeks; they then
enter the ground where the pupal state
is passed, lasting ordinarily about week.
The beetles OF this brood then come forth
from the ground to deposit eggs for the
next brood.
In the North there are two broeds OF
this insect per year, but in the South
there may be four, or possibly five.
Remedies
The most satisfactory poison spray for
asparagus beetle is arsenate of lead ap-
piled at the rate of one pound to 25 gal.
Ions of water. The addition of about two
pounds of resin soap renders this spray
much more adhesive and therefore more
effective. This>spray of course, cannot
be used upon beds from which asparagus
is being cut for market. 1t is recommend
ed only for young beds where no cutting
is being done, or for old beds after the
cutting season is past.
Another good practice for such beds is
the busting with fresh, dry-slaked lime
early in the morning, while the plants
are still moist with dew; or, on hot days,
TO whip the larvae from the plants. Ii il
is sufficiently warm they will be roasted
on the hot sand and few will be liable to
get back upon the plants.
In beds where cutting is being done,
about the only practice that can be rec
commended is two allow few OF the shoots
to grow as traps. The majority of beetles
will oviposit OH these, and every week or
ten days such stalks should be destroyed.
With such practice, of course no volun-
teer asparagus should be allowed to grow,
or the insects will multiply there
Finally, clean culture is an important
factor in control of this pest,as with many
others. Heaps OF rubbish, sticks, stones,
ETC., scattered about prove attractive
winter quarters for these insecls, and beds
will always be found TO be worst infested
near such places.
q. 0. HoUGHToE,
Entomologist to the Delaware Expert
ment Station.