To my mind, the asparagus beetle, Crioceris asparagi, is one of our most beautiful insects.
To my mind, the asparagus beetle, Crioceris asparagi, is one of our most beautiful insects. The Mondrianesque juxtaposition of its red border, creamy yellow squares and inky blue-black outlining is just astonishing.
Although only 5-6mm long, it's a supremely elegant beetle, neatly parallel-sided, shiny, cylindrical and compact. So what a delight that almost every asparagus plant now benefits from its decoration, at least, in south-east London they do.
I'm mildly surprised that I don’t hear more about this insect. It does, after all, only eat one plant — and one that is grown and consumed with quite some considerable zeal and passion by its aficionados. Even its pale grey maggots, which are the ones that actually do all the eating, are hardly complained of.
I’m guessing that many people just don't notice they're there. Since adults and larvae only appear on the feathery leaves, they are long gone and have not yet reappeared by the time the spears are harvested in spring. And even though some plants harbour hundreds, they can’t really be doing too much damage. Or can they? I’m sure I'll be told.
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