aig 
as Buffalo and in the following years generally throughout New York 
State, as also in the Niagara district in Canada. 
An interesting fact in the occurrence of the asparagus beetles in the 
Niagara peninsula was that the two species arrived almost simulta- 
neously and that the twelve-spotted form was the dominant one. By 
1902 the latter had ap- 
peared in Connecticut, 
at New Haven, and later 
in other portions of that 
State. 
DESCRIPTION, LIFE HIS- 
TORY, AND HABITS. 
The mature beetle ri- 
vals the common species 
in beauty, but may be 
distinguished by _ its 
much broader elytra and Fic. 6.—Twelve-spotted asparagus beetle (Crioceris 
me at duodecimpunctata) : a, Beetle; b, larva; c, second 
orange red color. Each abdominal segment of larva; d, same of ©. asparagi. 
wing cover 1s marked a, b, Enlarged; c, d, more enlarged. (Author’s illus- 
with six black dots, and ‘20m. 
the knees and a portion of the under surface of the thorax are also 
marked with black (fig. 6,a@). The beetle, as it occurs on the plant 
when in fruit, very closely resembles at a little distance the ripening 
asparagus berry. 
The common asparagus beetle, as is well known, dodges around a 
stem like a squirrel when disturbed, but the twelve- 
7 spotted form appears to trust to flight, taking 
wing more readily. Both species make a loud 
creaking sound when handled, by what is called 
The full-grown larva is shown at 6 (fig. 6). It 
measures, when extended, three-tenths of an inch 
Q = ; MO Ce » 44 « oa 
F1c.7._Criocerisduo. (8 mm.), being of about the same proportions as 
decimpunctata: Ege, the larva of the common species, but is readily 
natural size, on as- __ oi, ee re : : 
separable by its orange color. The ground color 
larged, at left. (Au- iy Se rot aoe Oa, Ss s : ae 
thor’s illustration.) COWS orange w hich is most pronounced on the ex- 
terior portions of the abdominal segments. The 
head, with the exception of the mouth-parts, is also ochraceous, 
the thoracic plate is prominent, divided into two parts, and is of a 
dark-brown color. _Enlarged figures of the second abdominal seg- 
stridulation, produced in the present species by 
rubbing the tip of the abdomen against the elytra. 
paragus leaves at : ; : : 
right; same, en- is ght yellowish cream with an overlay of ochra- 
ment of both species are presented at ¢ and d (fig. 6) for comparison. 
[Cir, 102] 
