Asparagus Beetle
Crioceris asparagi
Basic Details
Description
Taxonomy
Features
Translations
Basic Details
NameAsparagus Beetle
DescriptionAsparagus beetles scar developing spears and cause them to bend into a 'hook'. Identify their dark eggs on the tips to protect your spring harvest.
TypeInsect
FamilyChrysomelidae
GenusCrioceris
TribeCriocerini
Taxonomy & Features
PhylumArthropoda
SubphylumHexapoda
ClassInsecta
OrderColeoptera
SubfamilyCriocerinae
Features
- A specialized pest (Crioceris asparagi) that attacks only asparagus. Both adults and larvae feed on the spears and later the foliage
- Adults are distinctive: 6 mm long, metallic blue-black with a red thorax and six cream-colored spots on their back
- Feeding on the spears creates unsightly scarring and browning. Severe feeding on one side causes the spear to grow in a 'hook' shape
- Small, dark, oval eggs are laid standing on end in rows along the spears. These make the spears unmarketable for fresh sale
- Larvae are plump, grey-to-olive green grubs with black heads. They secrete a dark fluid onto the plants and feed heavily on the fern-like foliage
- Extensive defoliation of the ferns in summer weakens the plant's root system, leading to smaller, fewer spears in the following spring
- Overwinters as adults in the garden soil or under plant debris, emerging just as the first asparagus spears appear in early spring
- A second species, the Spotted Asparagus Beetle, is orange with 12 black spots and its larvae feed primarily inside the asparagus berries
- Manage by hand-picking beetles and larvae. Clean up old foliage and stalks at the end of the year to eliminate overwintering sites
- Control by applying neem oil or pyrethrin if populations are high. Harvest spears frequently to prevent eggs from hatching
Names in Different Languages
Latin / ScientificCrioceris asparagi
English (Alternate)Common asparagus beetle
Hindiशतावरी की सुंडी (Shatavari ki sundi)
Tamilதண்ணீர்விட்டான் வண்டு (Thanneer vittan vandu)
Teluguశతావరి పురుగు (Shatavari purugu)
Malayalamഅസ്പരാഗസ് വണ്ട് (Asparaguṣ vaṇḍ)
Kannadaಶತಾವರಿ ಹುಳು (Śatāvari huḷu)
Sanskritशतावरी-कीट (Śatāvarī-kīṭa)
Bengaliঅ্যাসপারাগাস পোকা (Asparagus poka)
Frenchcriocère de l'asperge
Russianспаржевая трещалка (sparzhevaya treshchalka)
Spanishescarabajo del espárrago
GermanSpargelhähnchen
