Which Bugs and Pests Attack Asparagus?
Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is a common vegetable that grows in home gardens and commercial farms. The spear of this plant is used in culinary dishes for its nutritional value as a source of vitamin A, vitamin c, riboflavin, calcium, thiamine and phosphorus. Damage caused by pests such as the asparagus beetle, asparagus miner, armyworm and European asparagus aphid affect the yield of this plant. Does this Spark an idea?
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Asparagus Beetles
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The asparagus beetle and the spotted asparagus beetle are pests commonly associated with the asparagus plant. The asparagus beetle is oval in shape and dark brown in color. The adults lay eggs in rows of three to eight on the spear of the asparagus. The spotted asparagus beetle is orange and features six black spots. This variety lays eggs on the fern of the plant.
The spotted asparagus beetle causes less damage than the asparagus beetle because it only feeds on the berry produced by the plant while the asparagus beetle feeds on the tips of the asparagus spear, making it unfit for sale or use in culinary dishes. Control this pest by using a broom to brush the plant. Once all the larvae are on the ground they will no longer bother the plant. The use of pesticides is not recommended as a control method, as pesticides can be harmful if consumed by humans, pets or livestock.
Asparagus Miners
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Asparagus miners are winged pets with a black hump-backed body. This pest causes damage to asparagus growing throughout southeastern portions of Canada as well as the northeast portion of the United States, including North Carolina and Tennessee. This pest has also been identified in Europe, Hawaii and California.
Asparagus miners cause damage to the plant by tunneling into the spear itself at the point where the spear meets the plant base. As this pest infests the plant, tissue within the stalk begins to break down, resulting in the presence of brown streaks on the spear. Wasps such as Dacnusa rondani and Sacnusa bathyzona are natural predators of these miners and are released to control infestations. Prevent these pests from successfully overwintering by ridding the plant of any unused spears at the end of the fall.
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Armyworms
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Armyworms are frequent pest of asparagus ferns and appear olive green as a caterpillar and gray as a moth. The larvae of this pest feed on the branches of the fern. As the armyworm infestation progresses the feeding girdles plant, causing the plant to die. The damage caused by this pest of the asparagus is most apparent throughout the summer and fall months. Some approved methods of control include the application of Bacillus thuringiensis or spinosad. Weeding the area around the asparagus plant can help prevent infestation in the first place.
European Asparagus Aphid
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The European asparagus aphid comes in both a winged and a wingless variety. These aphids are just .06 inches in length and appear bluish green. Because they are covered in a powdery wax, this pest can be very difficult to detect on the plant. As aphids infest an asparagus plant, they inject a toxin into the plant. This toxin shortens the growth of the internodes the season after the infestation occurs. As a result, the plant is unable to absorb the nutrients it need from the soil. Limit the presence of the pest by making sure the area around the plant does not contain any debris. If infestations do occur, remove and burn infested ferns or spray the plant with either an insecticidal oil or PyGanic.
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References
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