. Circular. Insects. 2 inquiry developed the fact that the species had begun its destructive work at Astoria, near New York City, in 1860, where, it is now conceded, it was introduced about 1856.° In 1881 another European importation was detected on asparagus near Baltimore, Md.—the twelve-spotted asparagus beetle (Grioceris duodecimpunctata L.), sometimes called the "red" asparagus beetle to distinguish it from the " blue " THE COMMON ASPARAGUS BEETLE. (Crioceris a spa rag l L.) From the seat of its introduction at Astoria, N. Y., the common asparagus beetle soon
. Circular. Insects. 2 inquiry developed the fact that the species had begun its destructive work at Astoria, near New York City, in 1860, where, it is now conceded, it was introduced about 1856.° In 1881 another European importation was detected on asparagus near Baltimore, Md.—the twelve-spotted asparagus beetle (Grioceris duodecimpunctata L.), sometimes called the "red" asparagus beetle to distinguish it from the " blue " THE COMMON ASPARAGUS BEETLE. (Crioceris a spa rag l L.) From the seat of its introduction at Astoria, N. Y., the common asparagus beetle soon spread to the asparagus farms of Queens County, N. Y., and by 1862 was reported to have occasioned the loss of over a third of the crops in certain localities, the loss being estimated at $50,000. Injury is due to the work of both adults and larvae upon the tender shoots, which they render unfit for market early in the season. Later they destroy b}^ defoliation the high-grown plants, particularly seedlings, the roots of which are weakened by having their tops devoured. The larvae are sometimes so abundant that the black molasses-like fluid which they emit from their mouths soils the hands of those engaged in bunch- ing the stalks for market; and the eggs are some- times laid upon the stalks in such numbers that the latter are rendered unsightly and even slip- pery by their presence. Larvae, as well as beetles, attack the tenderest portions of the plants, but the beetles gnaw with seemingly equal relish the epidermis, or rind, of the stems. The beetles are also accused of gnawing young shoots beneath the surface, causing them to become woody and crooked in growth. In some localities it is in establishing new beds that the greatest trouble and expense are incurred. The plants must grow a year as seedlings and two more in the beds before being cut for table use, and during these three years they are constantly exposed to the attacks of this insect. The beetle is a beautiful cr
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookpublishe, booksubjectinsects
