Both work extremely well against most beetles, caterpillars, and a host of other common pests. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. The common asparagus beetle is throughout the country. Crioceris asparagi, ‘Common Asparagus Beetle’. Organic methods of asparagus beetle ⦠Carefully slip the soapy water beneath the beetle on the plant, then come down at them from the top. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned. Asparagus is its only food plant. The spotted asparagus beetle is orange with black spots. program! Two to five life cycles can happen in a year’s time, depending on the weather conditions where the plants are. The eggs of the asparagus beetle are small, brown ovals and will usually be present in abundance. During winter farm visits, we checked tree bark, leaf litter and asparagus stalks to answer this question. The spotted asparagus beetle larvae are orange and adults are red-orange with black spots. Asparagus beetle larvae are dark, green-gray grubs about 1/3 inch (9 mm) long when fully grown. 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. Although it’s getting cooler during the fall, asparagus beetles are still active and seeking overwintering habitat all throughout and nearby Michigan asparagus fields. 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. After a couple weeks of intense feeding, they fall to the grou⦠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. Hi, I'm Kevin. We found that asparagus beetles that overwinter in deciduous leaves or old asparagus stalks survive at higher rates compared to pine needles and bark. 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. I created Epic Gardening to help teach 10,000,000 people how to grow anything, no matter where they live in the world. Asparagus. Adults lay shiny black eggs on the spears; the eggs hatch about a week later. Aside from the color of the spears, they will also appear to be visually weak, as if lacking life. As the season progresses, larvae feed on asparagus foliage. While you're here, why not follow us on Facebook and YouTube? 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. MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Asparagus beetles lay eggs on spears during harvest (A), which reduces spear quality. Both are grey-green in coloration, and finding them requires close attention, as they blend in quite well with the foliage of your plants. 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 While I would say that this is pretty obvious, it’s not… because the spotted asparagus beetle is more culinarily-diverse than its cousin. After all, you don’t want to secure the plants with their natural predator right there! 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. Learn more about where asparagus beetles go during winter and management implications. Spotted asparagus beetle larvae are typically darker in color than the common asparagus beetle larvae. Asparagus beetles can overwinter in dead asparagus foliage. 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. 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. Larvae. 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. Spotted asparagus beetle may also affect some cucurbits. Home » Asparagus Beetles: All You Need To Know About The Crioceris Species. 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. 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? 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. Asparagus beetlesâCrioceris spp. Beneficial nematodes are a great thing to have in your soil! insecticides when larvae are first noticed feeding on plants. Where exactly are these beetles coming from? Beetle is about 1/4â long, metallic blue-black with red and white markings. Stay tuned to learn more about the research happening in the MSU Vegetable Entomology Lab and Michigan State University Extension! These larvae will feed on the ferns of the asparagus plants for approximately two weeks before dropping to the soil to pupate. Lady beetle adults have oval to rounded, dome-shaped bodies with a varying number of spots. Asparagus beetles undergo a physiological process to prepare their bodies to withstand freezing temperatures during winter. Some of these may be affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission if items are purchased. The spotted beetles are less troublesome as they come out a bit later and feed on the berries rather than the ferns and spears. The bullet-shaped eggs are laid in rows perpendicular to the stem or fern. Another beetle associated with asparagus is the spotted asparagus beetle. 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. The beetle is 6.0 mm to 9.5 mm long and slightly elongated. Summer fern feeding can cause defoliation and ⦠As spring comes and the first signs of new asparagus shoot growth occurs, the adult beetle will also emerge from its winter hiding space. 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. Adults are blue-black beetles with a red prothorax. 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. Your local gardening center or nursery may not sell lacewings and ladybugs. So what can you do to battle the beetle? Show your Spartan pride and give the gift of delicious MSU Dairy Store cheese this holiday season! Use beneficial insects to help keep the egg population down. The eggs of the common asparagus beetles are dark brown and cylindrical shaped (Figure 3-B). Watch your plants closely in late April and early May as the new stalks start to appear. ⦠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. Asparagus beetle larvae on fern. While it will not necessarily kill off the asparagus beetles, neem oil does dissuade them from snacking on your garden. Approximately two weeks after emerging from the egg, the larvae are now prepared for pupation. After excessive feeding, the plant may appear to be shriveled and stunted. What time isn’t spent around asparagus is generally spent trying to locate a new asparagus plant to dwell on. Tell me in the comments! Preventing Problems: Remove old fronds and weeds from the asparagus patch in early winter and compost in an active compost pile. So what’s happening within fields may be just as important as the types of trees that are nearby. It has an elongated head with feathery-looking antennae. A recent Google search for âwhere to buy lacewings and ladybugsâ produced 264,000 results. Spotted asparagus beetles should not be confused with beneficial lady beetles. Asparagus beetle Eggs for the asparagus beetle are oval shaped, dark brown, about 1.5 mm long. We expect these results will lead to management recommendations in the future. Identification: Common asparagus beetle is blue-black, shiny, smooth and 6-9 mm (â
inch) long. Life Cycle/Habits. 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. Adult beetles emerge in early spring after overwintering on old asparagus fronds or in garden debris. But just how many beetles are sheltering in these different places? The ¼ inch long adults emerge from overwintering sites in and around the garden in early spring and feed on emerging spears. The spotted asparagus beetleâs body is similar to that of a ladybugâs, but it has a large, red head. Jeffrey W. Dwyer, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. beetles. 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. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. 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. Asparagus beetles are voracious eaters, especially the larvae. They have black heads and a slug-like body shape. The 4-H Name and Emblem have special protections from Congress, protected by code 18 USC 707. 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. Ladybugs and lacewings will happily eat the asparagus beetle eggs and stop larvae from being born. Asparagus beetle overwintering cages Research in the Vegetable Entomology Lab focuses on the ecology and management of arthropods that occur in vegetable production. Eggs. The first type is the common asparagus beetle, which is believed to have European origins. There may be two to five generations of this pest each year. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Michigan State University Extension will explain what we know, and donât know, about scouting and managing Japanese beetles in asparagus.. Japanese beetles have one generation per year and overwinter as a C-shaped grub in ⦠In order to answer this question, it’s important to understand what these beetles are doing in the fall and throughout the upcoming winter. When spears emerge, adults feed on spears and deposit brown-black ugly eggs on the spears that are impossible to wash off. It takes about a week for the larvae to pupate and then emerge as adults, and then the cycle begins again. Spotted asparagus beetle larvae are orange. They will also eat squash bugsand other garden predators. This particular beetle eats both wild plants found in nature and garden plants. 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. Larvae secrete a black fluid onto the plants. This tiny wasp, Tetrastichus asparagi, will lay its eggs in asparagus beetle larvae. The larvae of the asparagus beetle are dark gray with a black head. This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. These growers are making frequent insecticide applications to kill the beetles, but populations rebound quickly afterwards. 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. The most distinctive markings are three large cream-colored, squarish spots with red margins along each wing cover. We are interested in pollination, chemical ecology, biological control, habitat management, insect transmitted plant diseases and behavioral pest management. If your asparagus patch is bird-friendly, they will help you with asparagus beetle 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. Learn more about where asparagus beetles go during winter and management implications. 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. They start by having a snack to replenish themselves, feasting lightly on the tips of the new shoots. The larvae feed on the tips of asparagus shoots, damaging young plants. Their initial appearance is later Larvae are dark green-gray grubs about 3/4 inch (9 mm) long when full grown. Common asparagus beetle larvae are light gray with a black head. But if you do want to try companion plants, look at light-feeding herbs. Check out the Agribusiness Management B.S. 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. Once satiated, adult asparagus beetles will begin laying brown, pill-shaped or oval eggs in neat rows. The spotted asparagus beetle is not as destructive to asparagus, but still feeds on it, as I’ll explain a little further on. Keeping Asparagus Beetles at bay. While it’s not commercially available, there is a beneficial parasitic wasp that is naturally attracted to asparagus in the wild. Do you grow asparagus, and if so, have you had problems with the asparagus beetle? If the adult beetle can’t eat the fresh asparagus tips, it won’t stick around. common asparagus beetle is the more widespread of the two species. These microscopic soil organisms will help you by killing the larvae in their pupa beneath the surface of the soil or in leaf litter. Crioceris duodecimpunctata (Spotted Asparagus Beetle) larvae. Beetles and larvae also feed on asparagus fronds later in the season. Their elytra (wing covers) have yellow spots and red borders. A little more about me. Michigan’s asparagus industry has decades of experience managing the common asparagus beetle, but more recently this pest has been causing surprisingly difficult problems. Crioceris duodecimpunctata, ‘Spotted Asparagus Beetle’. Feeding disfigures spears, rendering them unmarketable. The spotted asparagus beetle is often mistaken as a weird ladybug, but this is no beneficial insect. The other type is the spotted asparagus beetle. This article contains incorrect information, This article is missing information that I need. Also, pyrethrin sprays are a common way of enacting asparagus beetles control. 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. What I’ve found that works when hand-picking them is to have a container of soapy warm water on hand. Both types of asparagus beetle inhabit North America, but the spotted asparagus beetle is far more common on the eastern half. A: The problem with companion planting in asparagus beds is that the asparagus itself is a very heavy feeder as a plant. We are continuing our research into asparagus beetle overwintering to learn more this upcoming winter. We found beetles overwintering in many places, including decomposing asparagus stalks, under leaf litter and underneath tree bark (Figure 2). 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. Here’s some information about how to identify these two types. We also found that a higher proportion of beetles overwinter within asparagus fields. The feeding of spotted asparagus beetle larvae on berries does not affect the health of asparagus plants over the long run. Colder climates have fewer life cycles. Adult over-winters in trash around garden. The eggs hatch within seven days, creating small larvae. How well do beetles survive in these different habitats? 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. The common asparagus beetle emerges early, at the same time as the asparagus spear. October 12, 2020. 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. The listings included brick and mortar businesses and online destinations. 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