PART I. 



FOOD CROPS 



A\D 



INSECTS THAT INJURE THEM. 



ASPARAGUS. 



Asparagus Beetle. Crioccris asparagi, Linn. 



Asparagus Beetle, larva and eggs ; all magnified. Natural length of egg and 

 beetle shown by lines. 



The Asparagus Beetle often causes injury, and in some 

 seasons does much damage, by the grub eating off the leaves 

 of the Asparagus, and gnawing the more tender shoots so as 

 to destroy them. 



The eggs are dark-coloured, somewhat spindle-shaped, and 

 may be readily observed fastened by one end along the shoots, 

 or on the unopened flower-buds. 



The grubs are of a dirty olive, or slate-colour, and exude a 

 large drop of blackish fluid from the mouth on being touched. 

 From the tail being curved and holding fast by a fleshy foot, 

 it is very difficult to pick them off. They are full-fed 

 in a fortnight, when they go down into the ground, spin 

 parchment-like cocoons, in which they change, and come up 

 as perfect beetles in about another fortnight or three weeks. 



B 



