206 MANUAL OF VEGETABLE-GARDEN INSECTS 



adults attack the growing tips and sometimes eat the buds as 

 soon as they appear above the ground. The beetles also feed 

 on the foliage and eat out irregular areas in the bark of the 

 stems. The larvae cause very little injury 

 since they feed almost entirely inside the 

 berries. 



The insect passes the winter in the 

 adult condition, hidden away in dry, 

 sheltered places. The beetles leave their 

 winter quarters about a week later than 

 the common asparagus beetle. They feed 

 on the tender asparagus shoots in much 

 the same way but do not deposit their 

 eggs until about the time the plants 

 begin to blossom or from three weeks to 

 a month after appearing in the field. 



The twelve-spotted asparagus beetle is 

 slightly larger and more robust than the 

 general color is reddish orange. The 

 antennse, eyes, knees, tarsi and the underside of the thorax 

 are black. On each wing-cover there are six distinct black 

 spots. The eggs are deposited singly on the leaves of 

 asparagus plants, usually those bearing fruit. The egg (Fig. 

 132) is about ^ inch in length by -^-^ inch in width and is 

 pointedly rounded at each end. The surface is smooth, shin- 

 ing and without apparent sculp- 

 ture. When first laid, the egg is 

 nearly white, changing through 

 yellow or orange to light green or 

 brownish olive. It is attached to 

 the leaf by one side. The eggs hatch in a week to twelve 

 days. The young larva is about 7^ inch in length, pale- 

 yellow or orange in color, with the head, legs and a spot on 

 each side of the first segment black. The young larva feeds 



Fig. 131. — The twelve- 

 spotted asparagus 

 beetle ( X 5) . 



other 



species. 



Its 



Fig. 132. — Egg of the twelve- 

 spotted asparagus beetle (X 12). 



