Comments on: Cockchafers or ‘Maybugs’ http://topveg.com/2007/05/30/cockchafers-or-maybugs/ news, reviews, hints and tips on vegetable gardening, fruit growing and herbs. Thu, 16 Oct 2008 04:29:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: TopVeg http://topveg.com/2007/05/30/cockchafers-or-maybugs/#comment-5959 TopVeg Thu, 05 Jun 2008 10:07:33 +0000 http://topveg.com/2007/05/30/cockchafers-or-maybugs/#comment-5959 Hi Nicky Thanks for the update - all interesting stuff. Interesting to see the cockchafers emerging! Please keep us informed - it will be good to know who is the culprit! TopVeg Hi Nicky

Thanks for the update - all interesting stuff. Interesting to see the cockchafers emerging!

Please keep us informed - it will be good to know who is the culprit!

TopVeg

]]> By: Nicky Huckle http://topveg.com/2007/05/30/cockchafers-or-maybugs/#comment-5957 Nicky Huckle Thu, 05 Jun 2008 09:18:52 +0000 http://topveg.com/2007/05/30/cockchafers-or-maybugs/#comment-5957 Thanks for the info, I would have replied before, but had some computer probs. I was a bit premature: more of the asparagus has now emerged. I now suspect slugs as the main culprits for the no-shows, but I am going to wait a while more before I start digging up the roots to check for pests in case they are just being slow. Luckily, I haven't had asparagus beetles yet (touch wood). I've had them in a previous garden and recognise the little blighters. The adults I was seeing were definitely cockchafers, and they are still emerging. Now I am not blaming them for my asparagus disappearances I can appreciate them more! Thanks for the info, I would have replied before, but had some computer probs. I was a bit premature: more of the asparagus has now emerged. I now suspect slugs as the main culprits for the no-shows, but I am going to wait a while more before I start digging up the roots to check for pests in case they are just being slow.
Luckily, I haven’t had asparagus beetles yet (touch wood). I’ve had them in a previous garden and recognise the little blighters. The adults I was seeing were definitely cockchafers, and they are still emerging. Now I am not blaming them for my asparagus disappearances I can appreciate them more!

]]> By: TopVeg http://topveg.com/2007/05/30/cockchafers-or-maybugs/#comment-5802 TopVeg Thu, 22 May 2008 20:28:27 +0000 http://topveg.com/2007/05/30/cockchafers-or-maybugs/#comment-5802 Hi Nicky What do the adults look like? Have you seen any caterpillars on the foilage. Is the foilage being eaten, or are they dying from the root? Asparagus beetle are the most common pest in the UK. Asparagus Beetle emerge from the soil in late spring (May and June) and lay black eggs on the asparagus spears and foliage. The creamy greyish-black larvae have yellow spots & are up to 10mm long when fully grown, after which they go into the soil to pupate.They can be picked off individually in most cases . But your symptoms sound like Cutworms - which is unusual. The cutworms feed on roots or lower stems and usually are hidden in the soil. Several kinds of fat, soft-bodied, basically gray, black, or brown caterpillars (40 to 50 mm long when fully grown) feed on asparagus roots. Cutworms have three pairs of legs and five pairs of prolegs . Cutworms occasionally feed above ground on spears and ferns when young, but older larvae burrow in soil during the day and sever plant stems at night. They curl up when disturbed. What bad luck to loose your asparagus TopVeg Hi Nicky

What do the adults look like? Have you seen any caterpillars on the foilage. Is the foilage being eaten, or are they dying from the root?

Asparagus beetle are the most common pest in the UK.

Asparagus Beetle emerge from the soil in late spring (May and June) and lay black eggs on the asparagus spears and foliage. The creamy greyish-black larvae have yellow spots & are up to 10mm long when fully grown, after which they go into the soil to pupate.They can be picked off individually in most cases .

But your symptoms sound like Cutworms - which is unusual. The cutworms feed on roots or lower stems and usually are hidden in the soil. Several kinds of fat, soft-bodied, basically gray, black, or brown caterpillars (40 to 50 mm long when fully grown) feed on asparagus roots. Cutworms have three pairs of legs and five pairs of prolegs . Cutworms occasionally feed above ground on spears and ferns when young, but older larvae burrow in soil during the day and sever plant stems at night. They curl up when disturbed.

What bad luck to loose your asparagus

TopVeg

]]> By: Nicky Huckle http://topveg.com/2007/05/30/cockchafers-or-maybugs/#comment-5796 Nicky Huckle Thu, 22 May 2008 10:15:33 +0000 http://topveg.com/2007/05/30/cockchafers-or-maybugs/#comment-5796 Do the larvae attack asparagus? This spring about half my asparagus plants have failed and there are quite a few holes in the soil just the right size to have had the adults emerge from them round about. And I have encountered several adults while out squashing slugs after dark Do the larvae attack asparagus? This spring about half my asparagus plants have failed and there are quite a few holes in the soil just the right size to have had the adults emerge from them round about. And I have encountered several adults while out squashing slugs after dark

]]> By: TopVeg http://topveg.com/2007/05/30/cockchafers-or-maybugs/#comment-5539 TopVeg Sat, 03 May 2008 10:59:24 +0000 http://topveg.com/2007/05/30/cockchafers-or-maybugs/#comment-5539 Hi Bim Cockchafers have legs and leather jackets do not have visible legs Hi Bim

Cockchafers have legs and leather jackets do not have visible legs

]]> By: bimwatkins http://topveg.com/2007/05/30/cockchafers-or-maybugs/#comment-5199 bimwatkins Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:45:32 +0000 http://topveg.com/2007/05/30/cockchafers-or-maybugs/#comment-5199 The pictures look more like leatherjackets to me - aren't chafer grubs white with brown heads? The pictures look more like leatherjackets to me - aren’t chafer grubs white with brown heads?

]]> By: TopVeg http://topveg.com/2007/05/30/cockchafers-or-maybugs/#comment-4728 TopVeg Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:21:31 +0000 http://topveg.com/2007/05/30/cockchafers-or-maybugs/#comment-4728 Hi Laura Glad we have helped. Thanks for letting us know! TopVeg Hi Laura

Glad we have helped. Thanks for letting us know!

TopVeg

]]> By: LauraHarris. http://topveg.com/2007/05/30/cockchafers-or-maybugs/#comment-4725 LauraHarris. Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:45:59 +0000 http://topveg.com/2007/05/30/cockchafers-or-maybugs/#comment-4725 Thankyou,This site helped me with my homework. I didn't have a clue what maybugs were but now I also know like Joanna. =] LauraHarris...x Thankyou,This site helped me with my homework.

I didn’t have a clue what maybugs were but now I also know like Joanna. =]

LauraHarris…x

]]> By: Joanna http://topveg.com/2007/05/30/cockchafers-or-maybugs/#comment-246 Joanna Wed, 30 May 2007 08:53:31 +0000 http://topveg.com/2007/05/30/cockchafers-or-maybugs/#comment-246 Thanks for this - I've often wondered whether maybugs are friend or foe to the gardener, and now I know! Joanna joannasfood.blogspot.com Thanks for this - I’ve often wondered whether maybugs are friend or foe to the gardener, and now I know!

Joanna
joannasfood.blogspot.com

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