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Asparagus beetle


Asparagus beetle
Photo Information
Copyright: Adrian Szatewicz (aes_thor) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 145 W: 23 N: 383] (1570)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-10
Categories: Insects
Camera: FujiFilm FinePix S9600, Fujinon Zoom Lens 28-300 mm Eq., Raynox DCR-250
Exposure: f/8, 1/200 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-07-13 5:30
Viewed: 340
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hi friends,

Today's post shows the species called Common asparagus beetle (PL: poskrzypka szparagowa), found on lilly in my garden in Mragowo.

Taken in RAF format, cropped, some colours balance and noise reduciton before framing, resizing and sharpening.

He wasn't common visitor in my garden before but this year I found many of them... I have no idea why- the asparagus are only food for them and I don't have any...
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Scientific classification:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Superfamily: Chrysomeloidea
Family: Chrysomelidae
Subfamily: Criocerinae
Tribe: Criocerini
Genus: Crioceris
Species: C. asparagi


The common asparagus beetle (Crioceris asparagi) is an important pest of asparagus crops both in Europe and in North America. Asparagus is its only food plant. The beetle is about half a centimeter long, metallic blue-black in color with cream or yellow spots on its red-bordered elytra. The larvae are fat gray grubs with dark heads.

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, and the parasitic wasp Tetrastichus asparagi Crawford has been successfully used for biological control.

The similar spotted asparagus beetle (Crioceris duodecimpunctata) 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. (Wikipedia)
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Thank You for Your time, any comments and criticques welcome.

Cheers and have a nice day.
nglen, haraprasan, marhowie, cataclysta, Silvio2006 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

hello adrian,
excellent macro shot,precise dof, the total insect body is in sharp focus, well composed shot,
tfs & regards
pankaj

  • Great 
  • cloud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 110 W: 60 N: 217] (1873)
  • [2008-07-13 8:50]

Witaj Adrian,
Nieznany mi okaz, dobre zblizenie i ostrosc a zkompozycja to troche bym pokombinowal.
Pozdrawiam, Pawel

Excellent beetle, super POV. The background is very good, displaying the colours and details to a high degree. Composition is also excellent. regards h

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1714 W: 24 N: 4988] (16346)
  • [2008-07-13 19:58]

Hi Adrian,
Just marking this wonderful shot, I will be back with a proper critique.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • vral Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 59 W: 0 N: 159] (690)
  • [2008-07-14 0:27]

Hello Adrian,

Beautiful macro of this Beetle you've presented. Fine DOF, color and details are well captured. Compo and PV are great.

thanks for sharing

vral

Hi Adrian,
A nice capture of this beautiful asparagus beetle. Very well composed with sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hi Adrian,
Very nice macro work, excellent color, detail, DOF, and exposure using the ambient light well.
I like the square frame and diagonal aspect also.
Have a great week,
Howard

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1995 W: 5 N: 5588] (21102)
  • [2008-07-14 10:16]

Hi Adrian. This is a good POV from over head , showing the markings on the back so well. With good detail and natural looking colours. and a good DOF. well done TFS.interesting notes too.
Nick..

Hi Adrian, splendid beetle with fantastic colors, great sharpness and fine details, perfect focus and beautiful blurry BG, superb macro, bravo, very well done, ciao Silvio

Czesc Adrian
Bardzo ladne ostre makro. Fajnie skomponowane i ciekawy kwadratowy kadr Bardzo elegancka fotka
Pozdrawiam
Krzysiek

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