338 



Insects most injurious to Cultivators : — 



Fig. 109. represents a branch of asparagus, infested with the 

 asparagus beetle in its different states. In this figure, a a are 

 the eggs ; b b, the larvae; c c, the exuviae of the larvae ; and d, 

 the imago : e is part of the branch not yet attacked. Fig. 1 1 0. 

 shows the eggs («), the larva (b), the pupa (c), and the perfect 

 insect (<i), all greatly magnified. 



During the last summer, this insect abounded to a very great 

 extent, amongst the asparagus, in some parts of the neighbour- 

 hood of London. It was especially troublesome hi the gardens 

 of Syon House ; but it appeared to be very local in its habits ; 

 as some places were quite free, although at no great distance 

 from infested spots. It appeared, also, in great quantity in my 

 father's garden at Hammersmith ; so that I had good oppor- 

 tunities of investigating its habits. Kirby and Spence merely 

 say of it: "The diuretic asparagus, towards the close of the 

 season, is sometimes rendered unpalatable by the numerous eggs 

 of Lema asparagi Fabr. ; and its larvai feed upon the foliage 

 after the heads branch out." {Introduction, vol. i. p. 192.) It is, 

 however, in the latter case that the injury caused by this insect 

 must be most material ; and especially in respect to young 

 plantations of this vegetable. This insect has again appeared in 

 our garden this summer; and it is quite evident that it prefers 

 the young seedling beds to the coarse full-grown shoots which 



