Asparagus pest ID?

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Posted by PaulNS NS zone 6a (My Page) on

Sun, Oct 24, 04 at 11:58

The bed is four years old. Since the second year, more and more distorted spears are showing up every year. And this year I've been seeing these fine coatings of what look like insect eggs - patches of small greyish-white round specks - on some spears. I've read about asparagus beetles and seen photos of them but have never once found any kind of bug or beetle on these asparagus. Is this their work?
Sorry about the poor quality of the photos, I had to borrow the camera secretly from work over lunch time and return it.

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RE: Asparagus pest ID?

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Posted by Vgkg 7-Va Tidewater (My Page) on
Wed, Nov 10, 04 at 12:47

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

RE: Asparagus pest ID?

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Posted by PaulNS NS zone 6a (My Page) on
Fri, Nov 12, 04 at 9:06

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.

RE: Asparagus pest ID?

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Posted by paulns NS zone 6a (My Page) on
Sun, Aug 13, 06 at 8:28

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.

RE: Asparagus pest ID?

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Posted by pfmastin 7b N. Carolina (My Page) on
Fri, Aug 25, 06 at 22:03

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. < s >

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

RE: Asparagus pest ID?

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Posted by paulns NS zone 6a (My Page) on
Mon, Aug 28, 06 at 10:19

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.

RE: Asparagus pest ID?

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Posted by sherlock_holmes z6a PA (sherlockholmes@epix.net) on
Fri, Sep 8, 06 at 23:38

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.

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