INJURIOUS INSECTS £35 
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 
tollowing ‘‘ open ’’ weather. 
Remedies.—The common asparagus beetle, under 
ordinary circumstances, may be held in restraint by 
c¢ 
FIG. 44——SPOTTED LADYBIRD 
a, larva; 6, empty pupal skin; c, beetle, with enlarged antenna above 
the simplest means. Chickens and ducks are efficient 
destroyers of the insect, and their services are often 
brought into requisition for this purpose. A practice 
that is in high favor among prominent asparagus 
growers is to cut down all plants, including volunteer 
growth, in early spring to force the beetles to deposit 
their eggs upon new shoots, which are then cut every 
day before the eggs have time to hatch. Another 
measure of value consists in permitting a portion of the 
shoots to grow and serve as lures for the beetles. Here 
