24 



FARMERS BULLETIN 856. 



PRINCIPAL GARDEN CROPS AND THE INSECTS AND DISEASES 

 THAT ATTACK THEM. 



ASPARAGUS. 



ASPARAGUS BEETLES. 



Two small beetles, one blue-black with yellow and dark-blue wing 

 covers, the other red with blAck spots on the wing covers, the former 



known as the common, or blue, as- 

 paragus beetle (figs. 20-21), and 

 the latter as the 12-spotted,^ or red, 

 asparagus beetle, do much injury to 

 asparagus over the eastern United 

 States. Attack begins wdth the 

 first-appearing tips and continues 

 until cold weather. The former eats 

 the foliage both as a beetle and as 

 a larva, or " slug." The latter's at- 

 tack is confined to the beetle, the 

 slug feeding inside the growing 

 berry. 



Control. — The best remedy is lead 

 arsenate, sprayed, as for the Colo- 

 rado potato beetle, from both sides 

 of a plant, as the beetles are active 

 and the foliage is difficult to reach, 

 so as to leave a coating of poison. 

 The tips for market should be cut 

 as early and as promptly as possible 

 in order to prevent injury. Dust 

 the plants of larger growth, includ- 

 ing volunteer plants, with fresh air- 

 slaked lime while the dew is on. This destroys all slugs when it 

 comes in contact with them. The slugs also may be killed in hot 

 weather by brushing them from the plants with a switch so that they 

 drop to the bare ground. They are delicate and crawl slowly, so 

 that few are able to return to the plants, most of them dying from 

 exposure to the heated earth. Since the red species develops in the 

 berry, the slugs can not be reached by a spray. Collect the berries 

 and promptly destroy them with the contained slugs. Consult 

 Farmers' Bulletin 837. ' ^ 



ASPARAGUS MINER. 



The maggot of a minute black fly, the asparagus miner, also does 

 considerable injury, but it is not so well known as the beetles because 

 of its small size. 



^ Crioceris iliiodecimjiinutdtti L. 



Fu:. 20. — Spray of asparagus, with 

 common, or blue, asparagus beetle 

 (Crioceris aspararji) in its different 

 stages; asparagus tip at right, show- 

 ing eggs and injury. Somewhat re- 

 duced. 



