Asparagus beetle (Was: Asparagus Planted!)

I used to spray my asparagus with rotenone to try to control the
asparagus beetle.  It was rather ineffective.  Then one day as I was
spraying I noticed a lady bug larva eating an asparagus beetle larva in
broad daylight.  I put away the rotenone for good that day.

I control the beetle in the cool part of the season before the ladybugs
are active by hand picking.  As I go out for harvest ever other day or
so (I have 100+ plants) I walk down the rows and pick off the beetles,
crunching them between my fingers.  It takes a special technique as they
drop to the ground at the slightest disturbance.  On warm days they will
also fly away.  But, with practic, you can crunch most of them.  Then as
the ladybugs become active I spend less time handpicking becuase the
ladybug pretty much keep them under control.

The eggs are laid on the stems, and later the leaves.  They are stuck by
one end.  They are less than 3mm (1/8") long.  The larvae look like
little slugs with tiny leg spots.  Don't mistake them for ladybug
larvae.  The ladybug larvae look like tiny dragons with spots running
down the sides and they can move quickly.

Steve  (Maritime...) 



Grem, Beth A wrote:
> 
> Rene,
> 
>   I planted 23 roots (ordered 25- was 2 short!).  How many people do your 25
> feed?? In other words, is 25 enough for two people?  Also, where do the
> asparagus beetles attack?  Where should I look for them and their eggs??
> 
> Thanks,
> Beth (MD zone 7)
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rene M. Lipshires [r*@ibm.net]
> Sent: Thursday, April 08, 1999 12:50 PM
> To: veggie-list@eskimo.com
> Subject: Re: Asparagus Planted!
> 
> I had planted asparagus 4 years ago, Last year was the first "full harvest"
> year.  We have about 25 asparagus plants, and the spears are absolutely
> delicious!  so much different from the supermarket.
> 
> these past few years, the asparagus has been invaded with the asparagus
> beetle.  I don't use any pesticides, so i end up hand picking them off the
> plant, along with their eggs; and put them in a soap solution contained in a
> screw top plastic bottle. I need to pick the beetles every morning before I
> go to work, but I end up having minimum damage to the plants.
> 
> Rene.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Grem, Beth A <GremEA@navair.navy.mil>
> To: 'veggie-list@eskimo.com' <veggie-list@eskimo.com>
> Date: Thursday, April 08, 1999 9:12 AM
> Subject: Asparagus Planted!
> 
> >Hi all,
> >
> >  I got my asparagus roots planted yesterday!  I am not quitting my day
> >job-I need the rest after digging two 16 foot trenches 6" deep.  Ok, Ok,  I
> >rototilled first and all I really had to do is remove the dirt, but I'm
> >still sore.  I dug into my first ever compost pile, too. Oh man, what great
> >stuff.  I'm sure the asparagus will love it. (put compost, lime and
> bonemeal
> >in bottom of trench then covered with dirt, placed roots on top and covered
> >with dirt.) didn't believe that the pile of stuff I collected last year
> >would really turn out this good.  I'm hooked.  Gimme those leaves....
> >
> >Beth (MD zone 7)
> >
> >
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