Behavior
The adult beetles and the larvae strip the needle-like leaves off the asparagus fronds, depriving the plants of the ability to photosynthesize and store energy for future years. They also chew the spears and lay generous amounts of eggs on them, making the crop unmarketable. The larvae feed on the plants for a few weeks, then drop to the ground to pupate. One year may see two or three generations of the beetle. The adults overwinter in a dormant state underground or in nearby leaf litter.Various insecticides are licensed for control.
The parasitic wasp, ''Tetrastichus coeruleus'', occurring mainly in the United States and Europe, can cause up to 71% mortality in the field and has been successfully used for biological control.
The similar spotted asparagus beetle is also a pest as an adult, feeding on tender shoots and leaves, but since the larvae feed only on the asparagus berries it is not considered to be as important.
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