Crioceris duodecimpunctata
Pest description and crop damage Adults are brick-red with six black spots on each wing cover. Eggs are green and deposited singly. Larvae are cream color with a light brown head. They most frequently are found inside the berry on female plants. Pupae are light yellow in a silken cocoon. Because larvae feed on the berries, infestations of the spotted asparagus beetle are less damaging than the asparagus beetle for fresh market and processing asparagus. However, the spotted asparagus beetle can be a major pest in seed production fields.
Biology and life history The spotted asparagus beetle overwinters as an adult and begins feeding immediately following emergence. Egg laying starts approximately 1 week after emergence. Eggs are oval and attached to the fern plant by the side. Larval feeding takes place primarily in the berry and lasts for 10 to 14 days and four instars. Mature larvae crawl to the ground and burrow within the soil, where they spin a silken cocoon in which to pupate. There are usually two generations each year.
Pest monitoring Spotted asparagus beetle adults rarely do damage to the spears and do not need to be treated. Larvae damage to seeds is of concern only when asparagus is grown for seed production.
Management-chemical control: HOME USE
- azadirachtin (as a mix with pyrethrins)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- carbaryl
- insecticidal soap-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- malathion
- permethrin
- pyrethrins (often combined with other ingredients)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- spinosad-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
Management-chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE
- acetamiprid (Assail 30SG) at 0.047 to 0.1 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 10 days. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/a per season. Limit 2 treatments.
- Chromobacterium subtsugae (Grandevo) at 0.6 to 0.9 lb ai/a per 100 gal. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use.
- malathion (Fyfanon 8) at 1 to 1.25 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 2 treatments per season. Retreatment interval 7 days.
- methomyl (Lannate SP) at 0.45 to 0.9 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 48 hr. Do not exceed 4.5 lb ai/a per year. Do not exceed 8 applications per year.
- spinetoram (Radiant SC) at 0.031 to 0.063 lb ai/a postharvest. PHI 60 days. REI 4 hr. Retreatment interval 4 days. Do not exceed three applications or 0.188 lb ai/a per season. Follow resistance management procedures on the label. Ferns only.
- spinosad (Success, Entrust SC) at 0.062 to 0.094 lb ai/a applied after harvest. PHI 60 days. REI 4 hr. Do not exceed three applications per crop. Do not exceed 0.28 lb ai/a per crop. Do not feed treated ferns to meat or dairy animals. Ferns only. Entrust SC is OMRI-listed for organic use.