37 
preventing its undue increase. One of the most active of these pre- 
daceous insects is the spotted ladybird (Megilla maculata DeG.), 
represented in its several stages in the illustration (fig. 16). The adult 
of this beetle is rose colored, with numerous black spots. The spined 
soldier bug (Podisus spinosus Dall.) and the bordered soldier bug 
(Stiretrus anchorago Fab.) are also useful as destroyers of asparagus- 
beetle larvee, which they catch and kill by impaling them upon their 
long beaks and sucking out their juices. Certain species of wasps'and 
small dragon flies also prey upon the larve. 
Asparagus beetles are very susceptible to sudden changes of tem- 
perature, and immense numbers of hibernating beetles are sometimes 
killed in winter during severe cold spells following ‘‘ open” weather. 
Remedies.—The common asparagus beetle, under ordinary circum- 
stances, may be held in 
restraint by the simplest 
means. 
Chickens and ducks are 
efficient destroyers of the 
insect, and their services 
are often brought into re- 
quisition for this purpose. 
A practice that is in high 
favor among prominent 
asparagus growers is to 
cut down all piants, in- 

nee ol eee h Fig. 16.—Spotted ladybird; a, larva; 6, empty pupal skin; ¢, 
cluding vo unteer growt ’ beetle with enlarged antenna above—all enlarged (from 
in early spring to force Chittenden, Yearbook U. S. Department of Agriculture 
the beetles to deposit their 1896). 
eggs upon new shoots, which are then cut every few days before the 
eggs have time to hatch. Another measure of value consists in per- 
mitting a portion of the shoots to grow and serve as lures for the 
beetles. Here they may be killed with insecticides, or the plants after 
they become covered with eggs may be cut down and burned, and 
other shoots be allowed to grow up as decoys. 
One of the best remedies against the larvee is fresh, air-slaked lime 
dusted on the plants in the early morning while the dew is on. It 
quickly destroys all the grubs with which it comes in contact. 
The arsenites, applied dry in powder mixed with flour, answer 
equally well, and they possess the advantage of destroying beetles as 
well as grubs, and are of value upon plants that are not being cut for 
food. Some of our correspondents use a mixture of paris green and 
air-slaked lime, or plaster, 2 pounds of the former to a barrel of the 
latter. It should be borne in mind that to produce satisfactory results 
the lime or arsenite must be applied at frequent intervals, or as often 
as the larve reappear on the beds. 
