Lema asparagi. The Asparagus Beetle, by some naturalists called Crioceris asparagi is thus described by Mr. Curtis: -

"The larvae which abound from June to September, not only eat off all the leaves, but even gnaw the rind from the stem of the plants.

"The eggs are oval, and fixed on the plants by one of their ends, one being sometimes attached to the end of another. The larva; are hatched in a little time; they are short, thick, and fleshy, covered with hairs, wrinkled, ash-coloured, with black head and legs; they move very slowly, and when alarmed emit a blackish fluid from their mouth.

"When full grown, the larvae go into the ground, where they contract a thick cocoon, in which they assume the pupa state. In a short time the perfect insect appears. It is about a quarter of an inch long, of a blue black colour, with cream coloured or yellow spots on the wing cases, and a red thorax. To lessen the ravages of the insect, little more can be done than to collect them by hand-picking or by shaking them into a net. As many beetles, however, may be found at the time the Asparagus is cut, we recommend that all these should be destroyed before they have an opportunity of depositing their eggs." - Gard. Chron.