The asparagus beetles . mmon asparagus beetle, as is well known, dodges around astem like a squirrel when disturbed, but the twelve-spotted form appears to trust to flight, takingwing more readily. Both species make a loudcreaking sound when handled, by what is calledstridulation, produced in the present species byrubbing the tip of the abdomen against the full-grown larva is shown at ~b (fig. 6). Itmeasures, when extended, three-tenths of an inch(8 mm.), being of about the same proportions asthe larva of the common species, but is readilyseparable by its orange color. The ground co
The asparagus beetles . mmon asparagus beetle, as is well known, dodges around astem like a squirrel when disturbed, but the twelve-spotted form appears to trust to flight, takingwing more readily. Both species make a loudcreaking sound when handled, by what is calledstridulation, produced in the present species byrubbing the tip of the abdomen against the full-grown larva is shown at ~b (fig. 6). Itmeasures, when extended, three-tenths of an inch(8 mm.), being of about the same proportions asthe larva of the common species, but is readilyseparable by its orange color. The ground coloris light yellowish cream with an overlay of ochra-ceous orange which is most pronounced on the ex-terior portions of the abdominal segments. Thehead, with the exception of the mouth-parts, is also ochraceous,the thoracic plate is prominent, divided into two parts, and is of adark-brown color. Enlarged figures of the second abdominal seg-ment of both species are presented at c and d (fig. 6) for comparison. [Cir. 102]. Fig. 7.—Crioceris duo-decimpunctata: Egg,natural size, on as-paragus leaves atright; same, en-larged, at left. (Au-thors illustration.) 12 In Europe, where this species is native, it is common, but notespecially destructive. The chief damage is from the work of the hibernated beetles inearly spring upon the young and edible asparagus shoots. Laterbeetles as well as larvae appear to feed exclusively on the eggs are deposited singly, and apparently by preference, uponold plants, toward the ends of shoots, which, lower down, bear ripen-ing berries, and they are attached along their sides (fig. 7). instead ofat one end as with the common species. Soon after the larva hatchesit finds its way to an asparagus berry, enters it, and feeds upon thepulp. In due time it leaves this first berry for another one, andwhen full growth is attained it deserts its last larval habitation andenters the earth, where it transforms to pupa and afterwards to thebeetle. The
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