Crioceris asparagi

Cannot easily be confused with other British leaf beetles due to unique coloration. The cylindrical shape combined with blue metallic or shiny black ladder-like elytral pattern on whitish background, reddish elytral margins and pronotum is diagnostic. The twelve-spotted asparagus beetle (Crioceris duodecimpunctata), a related species also found on asparagus, has twelve distinct black spots on orange or yellow elytra rather than the ladder-like pattern of C. asparagi.

Strongly associated with Asparagus species. Found in cultivated asparagus allotments and gardens, as well as wild asparagus stands. Pupation occurs in soil at the base of the host plant.

Native to almost all of Europe except the far North, extending through the Middle East, Central Asia and Siberia. Introduced to the United States and Canada as a non-native pest. In Britain: widespread in England, scarce in the North and West, few scattered records in Wales, historically absent from Scotland and Northern Ireland but now occurring in a few places in Scotland with increased range and abundance overall. Also present in the Oriental and Afrotropical regions.

Obligate feeder on Asparagus species (Asparagaceae). Adults and larvae consume leaves and stems externally. Asparagus is the only food plant.

• Asparagus officinalis - primary hostcultivated asparagus; eggs attached to crystalline waxy cladophyll surface
• Asparagus spp. - host genuswild and cultivated species

Eggs are attached to the crystalline waxy surface of host plant cladophylls using specialized proteinaceous adhesive secretions. Larvae are fat gray grubs with dark heads that feed externally on host plant leaves and stems. Pupation takes place in the soil at the base of the plant. Immature stages have been described by Steinhausen (1994; 2001).

Adults and larvae feed externally and conspicuously on host plants, making them readily visible to observers. Females attach eggs to host plant surfaces using proteinaceous secretions that overcome the anti-adhesive properties of crystalline epicuticular waxes. The egg secretion wets superhydrophobic surfaces and after solidifying builds a composite structure of solidified glue and wax crystals at the egg-plant interface. Mean pull-off force of attached eggs is 14.7 mN, approximately 8650 times higher than egg weight.

Herbivore specialized on Asparagus. Serves as host for gregarious egg parasitoids including Tetrastichus asparagi and Tetrastichus spec. (Eulophidae). As a pest of cultivated asparagus, it can significantly impact crop yields.

Important pest of asparagus crops in both Europe and North America. Economic impact through direct feeding damage to leaves and stems of cultivated asparagus, potentially reducing yields. Subject of biological control research utilizing egg parasitoids. Genome sequenced as part of the Darwin Tree of Life Project.

• Crioceris duodecimpunctataAlso occurs on asparagus but distinguished by twelve distinct black spots on orange or yellow elytra rather than the ladder-like pattern of C. asparagi; commonly known as the spotted asparagus beetle or twelve-spotted asparagus beetle

• pest
• agricultural
• leaf beetle
• specialist herbivore
• invasive species

• BugGuide
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Seeing Spots at the Bohart | Bug Squad
• Reaching Across the Ocean, 5000 Miles Away.... | Bug Squad
• Encyrtid Holdings | Entomology Research Museum
• Aspects of the Foraging Behaviour of Tetrastichus Asparagi Crawford and Tetrastichus Spec. (Eulophidae), Gregarious Egg Parasitoids of the Asparagus Beetles Crioceris Asparagi L. and C. Duodecimpunctata L. (Chrysomelidae)
• Egg attachment of the asparagus beetle Crioceris asparagi to the crystalline waxy surface of Asparagus officinalis
• The genome sequence of the Asparagus Beetle, Crioceris asparagi (Linnaeus, 1758).