Topic: asparagus pest

[tuinman]

I was just picking my asparagus today and i noticed or should i say captured and killed an asparagus beatle and after looking at asparagus noticed tiny eggs on them. This is the first time i have seen beatles on my crop, what should i do now? i don't want these pests on my delicious asparagus.

[BAK]

A bit early for the beetle, presumably attributable to the warm weather that we have been having.

Deal with them by hand while you are still cropping, eg rub out larvae / eggs.

Later on, one method of getting rid of the beetles is to put newspaper on the ground between the rows and then shake the foliage vigorously so that they fall onto the newspaper from where they can be disposed of.  Deal with eggs or larvae by hand.

If you are into spraying then use derris or a pyrethrum-based insecticide. I am sure that there must be an organic alternative but I do not know what.

Remove and destroy all foliage in the dormant season to minimise the likelihood of the beetle overwintering.

[grotbag]

i heard last year about growing tomatoes near asparagus ,apparently the smell of toms puts the beetle of,i tried it last year  with some success.

[delboy]

Interesting, as I have just found that my plants are under attack as well. It never ceases to amaze me how insects can home in on my plants when the entire garden is surrounded by house and 1.8m high fencing, and all the gardens are in turn surrounded by houses.

Having always been unconvinced about being able to get 'em all by the squidging approach, it's the derris for mine!

[tuinman]

Killed another 3 yesterday, i hope that was the lot but probably not.

[caroline7758]

Where we are, the tomatoes would barely be planted out before the asparagus is finished. ???

[tuinman]

even more yesterday, killed 6 i think. can't find any grubs but they are laying plenty eggs. i don't really want to spray but it could be time.

[grotbag]

have never had beetles until the asparagus is ferning up

[tuinman]

I might have won, I've been to look the last couple of days and i can't see any more beetles or eggs. squashing works!

[tuinman]

Had a look today, a little sun and they are back munching away. got some photo's of the little brutes;

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n31/valleydaz/DSC00860.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n31/valleydaz/DSC00857.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n31/valleydaz/DSC00852.jpg

and what became of them;

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n31/valleydaz/DSC00858.jpg

[tuinman]

has anyone heard of any organic means of controlling them?

in the first foto there is also an egg on the left.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Squashing, obviously. If it got really bad, a homemade insecticidal brew might do the trick. Try rhubarb leaves, boiled for an hour.

[saddad]

I'll stick with the squish if that's all the same to you...
I was good at teatime though!
 ;D

[tuinman]

rhubarb leaves, that sounds interesting. I've heard that they are poisonous so will give it a try i think.
it won't kill my asparagus though will it?
cheers