Beetles

[frogdoctor]

Hi all...
A few pics for those of you who have not seen an asparagus beetle...and the damage they do to your plants..

[OllieMartin]

Nasty, what's the plant?

[rogesse]

Yup, nasty little blighters and rather smart too. I posted my observations just over 2 weeks ago when I encountered a plague of biblical proportions on my asparagus. The grubs are revolting looking and the adults difficult to catch; deliberately scuttling around the stem to get out of my view and dive bombing to escape a good squishing.

Apparently there are two generations between May and September so although I think I'm rid of them now they may just be hiding and come back with avengence.

They can reduce whole fronds to dead wood if not caught soon enough and subsequently reduce next years harvest.

Good thread Frogdoctor - I didn't know what they were until I was under attack and the only other person on our lottie site growing asparagus thought they were friendly (they are pretty beetles).

Both of us ended up resorting to chemical warfare and neither of us can fathom where they came from in the first place!

[Capsid]

The caterpillars eat the plant. I think the pretty beetles are there just to reproduce. Here's one on my asparagus; you can also see two eggs at the 2 o'clock position from the caterpillar..

[frogdoctor]

Great pic Mark..
I`ve been chasing my little beetles around, just about to cut the plant back, the cuttings will be bagged and removed from our allotment site..

Ollie...asparagus plants, not sure if the beetle attacks other plants??

[OllieMartin]

Great pic Mark..
I`ve been chasing my little beetles around, just about to cut the plant back, the cuttings will be bagged and removed from our allotment site..

Ollie...asparagus plants, not sure if the beetle attacks other plants??

Ummmm, totally showing my ignorance, I had no idea asparagus grew like that!