I get those distorted spears too, not sure why, possibly a virus? As for the other stuff, I see no fern damage so can only assume it's residue from a non-pest bug? vgkg

Interesting suggestions vgkg. A non-pest bug - I hadn't thought of that. Some of the ferns do look kind of stripped though. The number of distorted spears is increasing every year, and we're planning to plant another hundred roots, for local sale of asparagus, which is why I'm concerned... I found an address for the agricultural rep and am forwarding the pictures to him.

The same eggs are showing up on ferns in the new garden. Last year I brought some inside to hatch them out. They turned into minute - 1/16" - caterpillars. Any ideas what they could be? They strip the ferns.

The hooked spears are cutworm damage.

I've attached a link for a photo of asparagus beetle eggs. Hope this helps.

I've pulled off some fuzzy yellow caterpillars eating the fern on my first year asparagus plants this year. Now I'm wondering what *that* was.

Here is a link that might be useful: Asparagus Beetle Eggs

pfmastin, thank goodness we don't find those. (asparagus beetle eggs). I wouldn't be sleeping nights. I wonder what the fuzzy caterpillars are too.

Are the grayish-white eggs laid individually along the stems or are they laid in masses along it and covered by a cottony / fuzzy material?

It could be the Beet Armyworn, also know as the Asparagus Fern Caterpillar.