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Asparagus beetle help please

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  • #1

    Asparagus beetle help please

    How do you peeps tend to treat these little critters? I only have a few plants not yet established, grown from seed and spotted a beetle. Went to look at the plants and they are covered in eggs and larvae I managed to squish two beetles I found, but can't remember how you should keep on top of the cycles.

    Thanks as always
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  • #2
    Hi NG

    I keep them under control by hand picking both the beetle and it's larvae and destroying them although you can use a spray such as bug clear but I never spray any of my crops with anything.

    As the asparagus season is quite short (Mid April to Mid June) so is almost over, and as you say your plants aren't yet established I'd just keep hand picking and let the plants do their thing till they start to die back.

    Remember though, when this starts to happen, cut the ferns down to ground level and burn it! as the stems are allow and this is where the beetle likes to overwinter, so doing this ensures you will not have a bigger infestation in the following season.
    "Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad"

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    • #3
      I pick them off by hand too. When you see one put your other hand lower down to catch it as it tries to drop to freedom.
      Location ... Nottingham

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      • #4
        None of the sprays I've used have had any effect at all on either the beetles or grubs. I hand pick - don't waste time trying to trap the in water though, they clamber together and fly out

        I've always suffered from them but since the commercial asparagus farm opened up the road there are literally hundreds of them, each new season the stems are weaker and more distorted. I'm gradually picking the crowns to death and chalking them up as something else I can't grow, it's a big list.

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        • #5
          I pick the eggs off too when I find them by just plucking off the tiny frond they are attached to. It's not enough for them to feed on and it's less damage to the plant than a munching giant larvae. Need to have good eyesight though
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          • #6
            I had them for a number of years on my asparagus, a daily inspection and cupping one hand under them whilst reaching for them with the other used to do the trick. Those that you don't grab dive off ready to lie upside down on the ground,so your other hand gets them. I just rubbed off the eggs with my thumb. If you do it every day, that should stop them multiplying. I don't remember seeing any damage to my crop, so I think if you get on top of the problem early enough, you shouldn't lose anything.

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            • #7
              My asparagus are heavily infested. Other people on the site don't seem aware so they (presumablY) keep multiplying, and come onto mine.
              They do keep going through the summer and it's almost impossible to see the B*****s on fronds. I've decided that once the season is over I'll use a spray, but which one?

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              • #8
                Just in case it helps anyone. I read on some obscure American site that they tend to favour female plants and this certainly seems to be proving true with my plants.

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