INJURIOUS INSECTS £33 
oughly and with concerted action by all the growers in 
the section, the relief can not be permanent. 
THE TWELVE-SPOTTED ASPARAGUS BEETLE 
(Crioceris 12-punctata Linn) 
The presence of this insect in America was first 
detected in 1881, and it is still much rarer and conse- 
quently less injurious than the preceding species. In 
Europe, where it is apparently native, it is common 
but not especially destructive. The chief source of 
damage from this species is from the work of the 
hibernated beetles in early spring upon the young and 
edible asparagus shoots. Later beetles as well as 
larvae appear to feed exclusively upon the berries. 
The eggs are deposited singly, and apparently by pref- 
erence, upon old plants toward the end of shoots, 
which, lower down, bear ripening berries, and they 
are attached along their sides instead of at one end, as 
in the case with the eggs of the common species. 
Soon after the larva hatches from the egg it finds its 
way to an asparagus berry, enters it, and feeds upon 
the pulp. In due time it leaves the first berry for 
another one, and when full growth is attained it 
deserts its last larval habitation and enters the earth, 
where it transforms to pupa and afterward to the adult 
beetle. The life cycle does not differ materially from 
that of the common species, and there are probably 
the same or nearly as many generations developed. 
This species is at present distributed throughout 
the asparagus-growing country of New Jersey, partic- 
ularly in the vicinity of the Delaware River, the whole 
