There are multiple generations each year and populations can reach high levels leading to severe loss of spears and foliage. Spotted beetle is bright reddish-orange with small black dots. Some of these may be affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission if items are purchased. The bullet-shaped eggs are laid in rows perpendicular to the stem or fern. We found beetles overwintering in many places, including decomposing asparagus stalks, under leaf litter and underneath tree bark (Figure 2). Spinosad and pyrethrin sprays, ladybugs, lacewings, parasitic wasps, beneficial nematodes, neem oil, floating row covers. Important natural enemies of asparagus beetles include a tiny parasitic wasp, Tetrastichus asparagi Crawford, which attacks eggs, and several species of lady beetles, which feed on asparagus beetle eggs and small larvae. These will be either on the spears themselves (for the common asparagus beetle), or on the ferns or flowers (frequented by both types). Organic methods of asparagus beetle … Asparagus beetle adults feed on young shoots during the harvest season, chew holes in the shoots, and lay small, dark brown eggs standing on end on the spears. Learn more about where asparagus beetles go during winter and management implications. Aside from the color of the spears, they will also appear to be visually weak, as if lacking life. Coming at them from the front or the sides seems to give them more warning and they can escape easier, but they don’t seem to see things coming from above as well. beetles. The common asparagus beetle (Crioceris asparagi) is the most prevalent asparagus pest that damages young asparagus spears.Overwintering as an adult, this slender, elongated beetle bears four white or yellowish spots on its wings, is reddish underneath and on the wing edges, and has a dark-red thorax. This perennial produces delicious spears every year in the spring. This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. A little more about me. They also protect against other pupating insects such as potato bugs, fungus gnats, and cutworms. We expect these results will lead to management recommendations in the future. Common asparagus beetle larvae. Stay tuned to learn more about the research happening in the MSU Vegetable Entomology Lab and Michigan State University Extension! Crioceris asparagi, ‘Common Asparagus Beetle’. The larvae of asparagus beetles excrete a black or brown liquid. The larvae are fat, grayish-green grubs with black heads. This particular beetle eats both wild plants found in nature and garden plants. The spotted asparagus beetle’s larvae prefer the berries that are formed by the flowering plants to the foliage itself. Shoots often become curved and irregular in shape due to beetle feeding. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned. The asparagus beetle, Crioceris asparagi, and the spotted asparagus beetle, C. duodecimpunctata, may both be found in gardens.In California C. asparagi is more likely to be found. Crioceris duodecimpunctata (Spotted Asparagus Beetle) I have been noticing these strange varmints on the Asparagus. Symptoms and Effects: Adults of the common asparagus beetle feed on asparagus spears and ferns. Asparagus beetles undergo a physiological process to prepare their bodies to withstand freezing temperatures during winter. Spotted asparagus beetles should not be confused with beneficial lady beetles. Asparagus beetle larvae vary greatly in colour, ranging from a greasy translucent grey to olive green. Common asparagus beetle: larva. As spring comes and the first signs of new asparagus shoot growth occurs, the adult beetle will also emerge from its winter hiding space. insecticides when larvae are first noticed feeding on plants. We found that asparagus beetles that overwinter in deciduous leaves or old asparagus stalks survive at higher rates compared to pine needles and bark. They usually will fall right into your soap-water. While common asparagus beetles are fixated on only asparagus plants, which makes them a major problem for farmers of the crop, the spotted asparagus beetle has been known on occasion to get a taste for cucurbits. Access to the right shelter could increase their survival into spring. The 4-H Name and Emblem have special protections from Congress, protected by code 18 USC 707. It is metallic blue-black in color with cream or yellow spots on its red-bordered elytra.The larvae are fat gray grubs with dark heads. There is also another species of asparagus beetle known as the spotted asparagus beetle. program! Photos from: Bugwood.org Clemson University - USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series Injury Both the larvae and the adults damage the asparagus plants. This is by far the most common asparagus beetle variety, and the one which is most devastating around asparagus plants. Spring spear feeding reduces crop quality (browning, scarring, staining, and bent growth). Bright red, cream and dark blue coloured beetles, oval shaped and about 1cm long. Adults of both types overwinter in plant debris and garden trash. Spotted asparagus beetle larvae are orange and adults are reddish orange with six prominent black spots on each wing cover. Life Cycle/Habits. Crioceris duodecimpunctata, ‘Spotted Asparagus Beetle’. Jennifer Zavalnitskaya and Zsofia Szendrei, Michigan State University Department of Entomology - Beetle is about 1/4” long, metallic blue-black with red and white markings. You can opt for a pure pyrethrin spray such as PyGanic, or you can choose a spray with other active ingredients such as Safer Brand Home And Garden Spray. Michigan’s asparagus industry has decades of experience managing the common asparagus beetle, but more recently this pest has been causing surprisingly difficult problems. Help! Lady beetle adults have oval to rounded, dome-shaped bodies with a varying number of spots. As long as you do not use any pesticides that are harmful to wasps, this insect will arrive on its own and take up residence nearby. You might not be alarmed when you see the first couple asparagus beetles, but if they’re not dealt with quickly, you will have a perennial problem right along with your perennial vegetables. Asparagus beetles lay eggs on spears during harvest (A), which reduces spear quality. Within a week of its appearance, the common beetles begin laying brown eggs in rows of three to eight on the new spears. The ¼ inch long adults emerge from overwintering sites in and around the garden in early spring and feed on emerging spears. If this is the case, you can find what you need on Google or Amazon. Where exactly are these beetles coming from? Two to five life cycles can happen in a year’s time, depending on the weather conditions where the plants are. Anywhere that one has been feeding will turn brownish in color. The eggs of the asparagus beetle are small, brown ovals and will usually be present in abundance. Spotted asparagus beetle may also affect some cucurbits. Show your Spartan pride and give the gift of delicious MSU Dairy Store cheese this holiday season! We also found that a higher proportion of beetles overwinter within asparagus fields. A: One of the worst things about asparagus beetles is that they do fly. Managing Outbreaks: There are two generations of asparagus beetle between May and September. October 12, 2020. What time isn’t spent around asparagus is generally spent trying to locate a new asparagus plant to dwell on. Summer fern feeding can cause defoliation and … Use beneficial insects to help keep the egg population down. Jeffrey W. Dwyer, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. A: The problem with companion planting in asparagus beds is that the asparagus itself is a very heavy feeder as a plant. The common asparagus beetle larvae have light gray to cream colored bodies and black heads and legs (Figure 3-A). Here is more about our approach. So what can you do to battle the beetle? It has an aroma that keeps asparagus beetles away, and it can live in even the most nutrient-deprived soil, making it less of a competitor to the asparagus itself. Petunias also act as a deterrent plant for asparagus beetles, but again, it’s better to plant nearby rather than directly in the middle of the asparagus patch. For asparagus, it’s best to spot-treat with these when you discover adult or larval asparagus beetles, rather than doing widespread spraying when it’s not necessary. Spotted asparagus beetle larvae feed more on the berries rather than the ferns of asparagus. Birds love to eat both the adult form and the larvae of asparagus beetles. Hi, I'm Kevin. Parsley is a great choice in an asparagus bed, especially if you get it started early enough that it surrounds the young spears as they emerge. During winter farm visits, we checked tree bark, leaf litter and asparagus stalks to answer this question. Figure 1. Eggs of the asparagus beetle are most commonly found on the spear. The spotted asparagus beetle’s body is similar to that of a ladybug’s, but it has a large, red head. Larvae of both asparagus beetles are slug-like, and cream-colored or grey with dark heads. The asparagus beetle likes to overwinter in leaf litter or other debris near its food, sometimes even inside the hollow stems of older asparagus plants. common asparagus beetle is the more widespread of the two species. I was busy so I went on about my business and it was happy about that. However, it really prefers the berries of the asparagus fern, and so it’s most likely to be found there where all of its nutrition needs are fully met. Once satiated, adult asparagus beetles will begin laying brown, pill-shaped or oval eggs in neat rows. While it’s not commercially available, there is a beneficial parasitic wasp that is naturally attracted to asparagus in the wild. These microscopic soil organisms will help you by killing the larvae in their pupa beneath the surface of the soil or in leaf litter. The spotted asparagus beetle is often mistaken as a weird ladybug, but this is no beneficial insect. Keeping Asparagus Beetles at bay. These eggs do not develop into larvae during harvest, as … They will also eat squash bugsand other garden predators. The first type is the common asparagus beetle, which is believed to have European origins. As a general rule, the asparagus beetle spends the majority of its life in, on, under, or beside asparagus plants. Using a product such as neem oil can also prove to be beneficial. After all, you don’t want to secure the plants with their natural predator right there! Although it’s getting cooler during the fall, asparagus beetles are still active and seeking overwintering habitat all throughout and nearby Michigan asparagus fields. Adults are blue-black beetles with a red prothorax. They start by having a snack to replenish themselves, feasting lightly on the tips of the new shoots. You can also add a floating row cover after all overwintering beetles are likely to have come out of the soil, provided that you are very sure there aren’t eggs, larvae, or adult asparagus beetles on your plants. We are continuing our research into asparagus beetle overwintering to learn more this upcoming winter. Eggs are usually found in groups of 3 to 8 oriented in a row and attached by one end to the host plant. Larvae secrete a black fluid onto the plants. You can identify when an asparagus beetle is feeding on your plants when there are holes or pits in the leaves, stalks, or plant structure. So what’s happening within fields may be just as important as the types of trees that are nearby. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. Another beetle associated with asparagus is the spotted asparagus beetle. While it will not necessarily kill off the asparagus beetles, neem oil does dissuade them from snacking on your garden. In addition, the larvae of the spotted asparagus beetle will feed inside developing berries and consume foliage. Common asparagus beetle larvae are light gray with a black head. This tiny wasp, Tetrastichus asparagi, will lay its eggs in asparagus beetle larvae. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Both types of asparagus beetle inhabit North America, but the spotted asparagus beetle is far more common on the eastern half. Their initial appearance is later If your asparagus patch is bird-friendly, they will help you with asparagus beetle control. Eggs. Spotted asparagus beetle larvae are typically darker in color than the common asparagus beetle larvae. Learn more about where asparagus beetles go during winter and management implications. The spotted asparagus beetle’s larvae prefer the berries that are formed by the flowering plants to the foliage itself. Most larvae dislodged this way will lack the energy to climb back up and return to eating, and will subsequently die on the soil’s surface. Spotted asparagus beetle larvae are typically darker in color than the common asparagus beetle larvae. Colder climates have fewer life cycles. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Asparagus is its only food plant. Watch your plants closely in late April and early May as the new stalks start to appear. Often seen as a pumpkin-colored orange beetle with black spots in the western United States, or a medium to dark red beetle with black spots in the east, it is similar in some regards to a ladybug… until you look at its elongated head and almost feathery-looking antennae. They drop from the plant down into the soil, dig under the surface, and form a cocoon there. One day I stopped briefly to look at one and it appeared almost slug-like. If you’re very sure that you don’t have overwintering asparagus beetles in your soil, you can keep a floating row cover over your plants. Beetle larva were chosen as a target subject because they are one of the key pests of asparagus (Morrison and Szendrei 2014), they are voracious feeders, easy to collect and handle, and co-occur with asparagus miner on field edges of post-harvest commercial asparagus fields (Ingrao et al. Symptoms The adult beetles are 6-8mm long (about 1/4in), they are black with six yellow blotches on their wing cases and a reddish thorax But if you do want to try companion plants, look at light-feeding herbs. The Vegetable Entomology Lab at Michigan State University is working with Michigan asparagus growers to discover where these beetles choose to overwinter. Asparagus. MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. The larvae emerge within a week and begin to move upward as the plant grows, feeding as they go. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464). The spotted asparagus beetle is orange with black spots. Crioceris duodecimpunctata (Spotted Asparagus Beetle) larvae. They have black heads and a slug-like body shape. The larvae of the asparagus beetle are dark gray with a black head. Home » Asparagus Beetles: All You Need To Know About The Crioceris Species. I created Epic Gardening to help teach 10,000,000 people how to grow anything, no matter where they live in the world. These growers are making frequent insecticide applications to kill the beetles, but populations rebound quickly afterwards. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. They will be feeding or laying eggs on asparagus spears and fronds. This information is for educational purposes only. Asparagus Beetle. 26 Cold Frame Plans For Your Winter Garden, 5 DIY Natural Pest Control Recipes for Your Garden, Asparagus beetle, common asparagus beetle, spotted asparagus beetle, Crioceris asparagi, Crioceris duodecimpunctata. Asparagus beetle larvae – These larvae are soft-bodied, plump, humpbacked, wrinkled, and sluggish. Identification: Common asparagus beetle is blue-black, shiny, smooth and 6-9 mm (⅜ inch) long. These larvae will feed on the ferns of the asparagus plants for approximately two weeks before dropping to the soil to pupate. Asparagus beetle overwintering cages Research in the Vegetable Entomology Lab focuses on the ecology and management of arthropods that occur in vegetable production. The feeding of spotted asparagus beetle larvae on berries does not affect the health of asparagus plants over the long run. There are two types that are commonly found in the US. When spears emerge, adults feed on spears and deposit brown-black ugly eggs on the spears that are impossible to wash off. While the ones I’m mentioning are less dangerous to pollinators, it’s a good idea to try to avoid spraying the asparagus spears when the tops have gone to bloom. The beetle is 6.0 mm to 9.5 mm long and slightly elongated. The most common of asparagus pests, asparagus beetles weaken plants when fed upon by adults and larvae. Your local gardening center or nursery may not sell lacewings and ladybugs. Their elytra (wing covers) have yellow spots and red borders. A quick harvest of spears as soon as they’ve reached a reasonable length is the best way to discourage asparagus beetles, as it cuts short their life cycle. Japanese beetles are a major pest of fruit crops, turf and home gardens, and, since 2009, have become increasingly abundant in west Michigan asparagus fields. The eggs of the common asparagus beetles are dark brown and cylindrical shaped (Figure 3-B). Feeding disfigures spears, rendering them unmarketable. Using a soft-bristled brush to knock eggs and larvae off of the plant is generally a good idea, provided that you are careful not to damage the plant. Common Asparagus Beetle: Crioceris asparagi (L.) Common asparagus beetle: adult. The common asparagus beetle is mostly blue-black, but has cream-colored or pale yellow spots along its back, and an orangish or reddish border to its wings. On some well-managed farms, growers are having issues with asparagus beetle eggs on spears (Figure 1). After a couple weeks of intense feeding, they fall to the grou… Preventing Problems: Remove old fronds and weeds from the asparagus patch in early winter and compost in an active compost pile. Ladybugs and lacewings will happily eat the asparagus beetle eggs and stop larvae from being born. The spotted asparagus beetle larvae are orange and adults are red-orange with black spots. Spotted asparagus beetle larvae are orange. Check out the Agribusiness Management B.S. It is decidedly different in appearance (Figure 11) , life cycle and importance as an asparagus pest. How to Get Rid of Asparagus Beetles In most situations, organic treatment for asparagus beetles is recommended, unless populations are enormous or asparagus … The tips of the spears themselves may also turn brown. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. We're always looking to improve our articles to help you become an even better gardener. Also, pyrethrin sprays are a common way of enacting asparagus beetles control. The common asparagus beetle larvae migrate to the ferns and begin to feast upon the plants, and neither the ferns nor the shoots will be safe. They secrete a black fluid which stains the plant. The eggs hatch within seven days, creating small larvae. Both work extremely well against most beetles, caterpillars, and a host of other common pests. Tell me in the comments! Both beetles are approximately ¼ inch in length. Larvae are dark green-gray grubs about 3/4 inch (9 mm) long when full grown. Larvae. They range in colour from light-yellow to dark-brown, depending on the age of the egg. It also has the added bonus of being human and pet safe, and it’s safe for most beneficial insects as well. Most gardeners try to keep everything other than asparagus out of their asparagus beds, including any and all weeds, companion plants, etcetera. The listings included brick and mortar businesses and online destinations. What I’ve found that works when hand-picking them is to have a container of soapy warm water on hand. These are the same beetles that will emerge from overwintering when spring comes. In order to answer this question, it’s important to understand what these beetles are doing in the fall and throughout the upcoming winter. Adult over-winters in trash around garden. While you're here, why not follow us on Facebook and YouTube? Carefully slip the soapy water beneath the beetle on the plant, then come down at them from the top. So now that you know what you’re looking for and what it’s likely to be attacking, how do you eliminate these annoying little beetles from your perennial beds? How well do beetles survive in these different habitats? Temperatures can only get so low before beetles begin to die so beetles seek out shelter so they are protected as much as possible from freezing temperatures. Asparagus is a great crop to grow. Adult beetles emerge in early spring after overwintering on old asparagus fronds or in garden debris. Asparagus beetle Eggs for the asparagus beetle are oval shaped, dark brown, about 1.5 mm long. Do you grow asparagus, and if so, have you had problems with the asparagus beetle? Asparagus beetles can overwinter in dead asparagus foliage. However, be sure to check your plants as you harvest to ensure there are no eggs on the plant or on the stalks you’re cutting. Both are grey-green in coloration, and finding them requires close attention, as they blend in quite well with the foliage of your plants. Both the adult and larval stages of asparagus beetle eat the foliage of asparagus, they can also gnaw bark from stems, causing growth above the point of damage to dry up. If you see an odd-colored beetle that’s a bluish-black in color with red and white, it might be the common asparagus beetle, Crioceris asparagi. When the eggs hatch, the larvae will be consumed by the young wasps. Spinosad sprays, such as Monterey Garden Insect Spray, can be used quite effectively to control a number of beetles and caterpillars, leaf miners and thrips. A recent Google search for “where to buy lacewings and ladybugs” produced 264,000 results. While it’s generally recommended that you use these options in limited amounts, especially on young asparagus stalks, use of a few spray insecticides can help you kill asparagus beetles and their larvae. Read on, and I’ll tell you everything you need to know about asparagus beetles and how to get rid of them. It should be relatively easy to see these eggs as they visibly jut out from the fern or spear, creating an almost spiky-looking line along it. But there is a down side to growing this phenomenal edible… the asparagus beetle. The other type is the spotted asparagus beetle. … If the adult beetle can’t eat the fresh asparagus tips, it won’t stick around. The most distinctive markings are three large cream-colored, squarish spots with red margins along each wing cover. The asparagus beetle larvae, pupae or grubs are equally dangerous to the plants easting away at the foliage and spears. The common asparagus beetle is throughout the country. There may be two to five generations of this pest each year. They grow to about 9 mm long and have three pairs of legs near the head and fleshy prolegs on most abdominal segments. Q: Are there companion plants that repel asparagus beetles? Dra… Approximately two weeks after emerging from the egg, the larvae are now prepared for pupation. Beneficial nematodes are a great thing to have in your soil! Asparagus beetle larvae are dark, green-gray grubs about 1/3 inch (9 mm) long when fully grown. It takes about a week for the larvae to pupate and then emerge as adults, and then the cycle begins again. We are interested in pollination, chemical ecology, biological control, habitat management, insect transmitted plant diseases and behavioral pest management. But just how many beetles are sheltering in these different places? The common asparagus beetle emerges early, at the same time as the asparagus spear. The spotted beetles are less troublesome as they come out a bit later and feed on the berries rather than the ferns and spears. As the season progresses, larvae feed on asparagus foliage. Q: I am having problems catching adult beetles. Beetles and larvae also feed on asparagus fronds later in the season. This article contains incorrect information, This article is missing information that I need. MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer, committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential. Michigan State University Extension will explain what we know, and don’t know, about scouting and managing Japanese beetles in asparagus.. Japanese beetles have one generation per year and overwinter as a C-shaped grub in … It has an elongated head with feathery-looking antennae. Epic Gardening occasionally links to goods or services offered by vendors to help you find the best products to care for plants. Here’s some information about how to identify these two types. The larvae feed on the tips of asparagus shoots, damaging young plants. After excessive feeding, the plant may appear to be shriveled and stunted. While I would say that this is pretty obvious, it’s not… because the spotted asparagus beetle is more culinarily-diverse than its cousin. Asparagus beetles are voracious eaters, especially the larvae. If you can catch the overwintering adults quickly after they make their way out of the surrounding soil and hand-pick them off the plants, you can prevent egg laying. French and Mexican marigolds can also repel asparagus beetles, but it might be better to surround your asparagus bed with them rather than planting them amidst the asparagus crowns, although marigolds also offer protection from nematodes and other plant problems if they’re close by. Lacewings and ladybugs find asparagus beetles delicious! Please remember that some insecticides are harmful to bees. The spotted asparagus beetle is not as destructive to asparagus, but still feeds on it, as I’ll explain a little further on. With this, pay attention to the staining or darkening of the color of the buds to determine if it is already a symptom of infestation. Vegetable Entomology Lab at Michigan State University. Asparagus beetles—Crioceris spp. Good Products To Eliminate Asparagus Beetles (in order): While technically there are four known types of Crioceris, only two have been recorded in modern times. Based on data from winter 2019-2020, we found that some beetles overwinter in woodlots and weed margins around asparagus fields, which lines up with grower observations. Those plants can than be sprayed to eliminate concentrations of beetles and their larvae. Asparagus beetle larvae on fern. The common asparagus beetle (Crioceris asparagi) is an important pest of asparagus crops both in Europe and in North America. While asparagus beetles are horrible to any lover of fresh spring asparagus spears, these tips can help you to keep them at bay and protect your future harvest. 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