12 



FARMERS BULLETIN 831. 



Fig. 8.— The twelve-spotted asparagus beetle: a, Beetle; b, brva 

 c, second segment of larva; d, second segment of larva of the coin 

 mon asparagus beetle, a, b, Enlarged; c, d, more enlarged. 



DESCRIPTION, SEASONAL HISTORY, AND HABITS. 



The mature beetle (fig. 8, a) rivals the common species in beauty, 

 but may be distinguished by its much broader back and orange- 

 red color. Each wmg-cover is marked with 6 black dots, and the 

 knees and a portion of the under surface of the thorax are marked 



with black. The bee- 

 tle, as it occurs on the 

 plant when in fruit, 

 very closely resembles 

 at a little distance a 

 ripenmg asparagus 

 ])erry. 



The common aspara- 

 gus beetle dodges 

 around a stem like a 

 squirrel when dis- 

 turbed, but the twelve- 

 spotted form appears 

 to trust to flight, tak- 

 ing wing more readily. 

 Both species make a 

 loud creaking soimd, when handled produced, in the present species, 

 by rubbing the tip of the abdomen against the wing-covers. 



The full-gro\vn larva (fig. 8, h) measures, when extended, tliree- 

 tenths of an inch (8 mm.), bemg of about the same proportions as the 

 larva of the common species, but is readily separable by its orange 

 color. The ground color is light yellowish cream 

 with an overlay of yellowish orange which is 

 most pronounced on the outer portions of the 

 abdominal segments. The head, with the ex- 

 ception of the mouthparts, is also yellowish. 

 The thoracic plate is prominent, divided into two 

 parts, and of a dark-browTi color. The sec- 

 ond abdominal segments of both species, much 

 enlarged, are shown for comparison at c and d, 

 figure 8. 



The chief damage inflicted by this species re- 

 sults from the work of the hibernated beetles in 

 early spring upon the young and edible aspar- 

 agus shoots. Later beetles as well as larvae appear to feed ex- 

 clusively on the berries. In Europe this species, although common, 

 is not especially destructive. 



The eggs are deposited singly, and apparently by preference upon 

 old plants, toward the ends of shoots which, lower do^\^l, bear 

 ripenmg berries, and they are attached along their sides (see fig. 9) 



Fig. 9.— Eggs of the twelve- 

 spotted asparagus beetle: 

 At left, much enlarged; at 

 right, nearly natural size. 



