Occurrence of Crioceris Spp. of Ten European Asparagus Cultivars Depending on Drip Irrigation

The influence of drip irrigation of 10 European asparagus cultivars on the occurrence of Crioceris duodecimpunctata (L.) and Crioceris asparagi (L.) was studied. We tested 5 German cultivars (‘Ravel’, ‘Rambo’, ‘Rally’, ‘Ramada’, ‘Rapsody’), 2 Spanish cv. (‘Cipres’ and ‘Plaverd’), 2 Dutch cv. (‘Backlim’ and ‘Grolim’) and French cv. ‘Orane’ in the field conditions. The field experiment was carried out in two consecutive years (2005-2006) at Kruszyn Krajeński near Bydgoszcz on a sandy soil. Adults and larvae of C. duodecimpunctata (twelvespotted asparagus beetles - T-SAB) and C. asparagi (common asparagus beetles - CAB) reached over 91% of all insects settled on asparagus summer stalks. The German cultivars ‘Rambo’ and ‘Rally’ were considerably settled by adults and larvae of T-SAB. The highest number of individuals (adults and larvae) of CAB on the Dutch cv. ‘Backlim’ were observed. However, German cv. ‘Rapsody’ were significantly less numerous (both CAB and T-SAB). Moreover Dutch cv. ‘Backlim’ was more occupied by adults and larvae of CAB in drip irrigation plots than all five tested German cultivars. Also adults and larvae of T-SAB as well as CAB often prefer drip irrigated asparagus summer stalks.