340 Insects most injurious to Cultivators. 



mur, and introduced Into the Insect Architecture) ; but the larva 

 of the asparagus beetle is different in its habits, following the 

 ordinary plan in this respect. The larvae are to be found from 

 the end of June till September. They, of course, do not appear 

 until the asparagus is sufficiently grown for their support ; the 

 eggs being deposited on the plant, and not in an adjacent situ- 

 ation ; and they arrive at their full growth in about a fortnight. 

 They are most partial to the tenderest shoots ; and, even whilst I 

 have been writing this notice, some of the largest of these larvae 

 had quitted the twig on which they were feeding in order to 

 attack a much younger and tenderer stem which 1 had placed by 

 its side. They shed their skins several times, the exuviae being 

 visible amongst the unconsumed twigs of the asparagus. When 

 full grown, the larvae descend into the ground, where they con- 

 struct a thick pergameneous cocoon, in which they are transformed 

 into white pupae of the ordinary form ; the limbs, antennae, and 

 wings being folded in separate sheaths along the breast. 



This state lasts about another fortnight ; so that six or seven 

 weeks may be considered as the duration of the insect's life ; one 

 third of which is occupied by the egg, another third by the 

 larva, and the remaining third by the pupa and imago states. 

 The perfect insect will, however, live a long time if confined ; 

 some, which 1 kept last autumn in a box, remaining alive for 

 many weeks ; though, had they been able to deposit their eggs 

 in a proper situation, they would doubtless have died long 

 before. Some individuals, also, survive the winter : indeed, I am 

 inclined to think that the insect, through this inclement part of 

 the year, is in the imago state, hidden in some secret place or 

 other, and not in the pupa state, as is ordinarily the case with 

 insects in general. Certainly, the closely allied species, Crioceris 

 cyanella, may be found under the bark of willows, throughout 

 the winter ; and I saw a perfect specimen of the C. asparagi 

 creeping about the asparagus bed as soon as ever the plants ap- 

 peared above ground. This, of course, is an important part of 

 the insect's economy ; because, if the fact be as I suppose, it will 

 be evident that the beetles, which make their appearance in the 

 spring, are destined to be the parents of the whole of the future 

 broods ; and, therefore, by bestowing a little trouble during the 

 time of cutting the asparagus, in order to kill the few beetles 

 then visible (which, from their bright and lively colours, would 

 be a very easy task), much of the subsequent injury would be 

 remedied. It is certain, however, that, if this precaution be not 

 taken, the propagation of the insect is very rapid; and as, during 

 the summer months, it is to be found in the egg, larva, and imago 

 states at the same time on the same plant, it is evident that there 

 is no regularity in the succession of the broods. Even after- 

 wards, when the asparagus is full grown, some of the plants are 



