INSECTS INJURIOUS TO MISCELLANEOUS CROPS 381 



The Twelve-spotted Asparagus-beetle * 



The Twelve-spotted Asparagus Beetle is also of European 

 origin, having been first introduced into this country near Balti- 

 more, Md., in 1881. Since then it has become almost as widely 

 distributed as the previous species. 



The beetles may be distinguished from the last species by 

 the broader wing-covers, each of which is orange-red, marked 

 with six black spots. The chief injury by this species is by the 

 beetles which emerge from hibernation feeding on the young 

 shoots. Later generations attack the foliage, but the larvae 

 seem to prefer to feed upon the ripening berries. The larva is 

 of the same general 

 appearance as that 

 of the preceding spe- 

 cies, but may be dis- 

 tinguished by its 

 orange color. The 

 eggs are laid singly, 

 and are attached on 

 the sides instead of 

 on end. They are 

 deposited mostly on 



old plants toward FIG. 318. The twelve-spotted asparagus-beetle (Cri- 

 the ends of the oceris 12-punctata Linn.): a, beetle; 6, larva; c, 

 , , . , , second abdominal segment of larva; d, same of 



snoots wnicn bear c, asparagi a, b, enlarged; c, d, more enlarged, 

 ripening berries ( After Chittenden, U. S. Dept. Agr.) 



lower down. Soon after a larva hatches it finds its way to a berry 

 and feeds upon its ripening pulp, from which it migrates to an- 

 other, feeding upon several, perhaps, before full growth is obtained, 

 when it drops to the ground and pupates like the last species. 

 The life cycle is essentially the same and there are probably the 

 same number of generations. 



Control. The remedies advocated for the previous species 

 will be found satisfactory except those which are directed against 

 the larvae, as the habit of the larva of concealing itself in the 

 berry would make the application of insecticides to the seed- 

 stalks of little use. 



* Crioceris 12-punctata Linn. See F. H. Chittend?n, I.e., and D. E. Fink, 

 Cornell Univ. Expt. Sta., Bulletin 331. 



