Pest identification
What's eating my asparagus?
Asparagus beetle (Crioceris asparagi) and spotted asparagus beetle (C. duodecimpunctata)
Signs: Adults and larvae strip fern foliage; egg clusters on spears are unsightly; repeated defoliation weakens crowns.
Control: Hand-pick adults, larvae, and eggs daily; apply spinosad or pyrethrin for heavy infestations; remove old fern debris in fall.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Emerging spears show ragged, slimy chew marks; worst in cool, wet spring weather at soil level.
Control: Apply iron phosphate bait around beds; hand-pick at dusk; use a gritty mulch barrier around the bed edges.
Aphids (Brachycorynella asparagi — asparagus aphid)
Signs: Dense gray-green colonies on fern stems cause distortion and a feathery, witch's-broom appearance.
Control: Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; strong water jet to dislodge colonies; avoid late-season nitrogen.
Deer and rabbits
Signs: Deer browse young spears cleanly; rabbits crop them near ground level, significantly reducing yield.
Control: Install a 1.5 m deer fence or use motion-activated repellents; bury wire mesh around bed perimeter for rabbits.
Keep asparagus pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Asparagus pests — FAQ
What is eating my asparagus?
Asparagus beetle is the primary pest of asparagus in both the US and UK, defoliating ferns and weakening crowns. Slugs attack emerging spears in spring, and aphids colonize fern growth. Wildlife, especially deer and rabbits, browse spears. Hand-pick beetles daily during harvest and fern growth for best control.
How do I get rid of asparagus beetle (crioceris asparagi) and spotted asparagus beetle (c. duodecimpunctata) on asparagus?
Adults and larvae strip fern foliage; egg clusters on spears are unsightly; repeated defoliation weakens crowns. Hand-pick adults, larvae, and eggs daily; apply spinosad or pyrethrin for heavy infestations; remove old fern debris in fall.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on asparagus?
Emerging spears show ragged, slimy chew marks; worst in cool, wet spring weather at soil level. Apply iron phosphate bait around beds; hand-pick at dusk; use a gritty mulch barrier around the bed edges.
How do I get rid of aphids (brachycorynella asparagi — asparagus aphid) on asparagus?
Dense gray-green colonies on fern stems cause distortion and a feathery, witch's-broom appearance. Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; strong water jet to dislodge colonies; avoid late-season nitrogen.
How do I get rid of deer and rabbits on asparagus?
Deer browse young spears cleanly; rabbits crop them near ground level, significantly reducing yield. Install a 1.5 m deer fence or use motion-activated repellents; bury wire mesh around bed perimeter for rabbits.