INJURIOUS INSECTS 



I.-^I 



their juices. Certain species of wasps and small 

 dragon-flies also prey upon the larv^ae. 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 

 following " open " weather. 



Remedies. — The common asparagus beetle, under 

 ordinary circumstances, may be held in restraint by 



FIG. 44 — SPOTTED LAUYKIRD 



a, larva ; b, empty pupal skin ; c, beetle, with enlarged antenna above 



the simplest means. Chickens and ducks are efficient 

 destroyers of the inse(5l, 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 



