Temporal and Spatial Changes in Abundance of the Asparagus Miner, Ophiomyia simplex (Loew) (Diptera: Agromyzidae), in Michigan

Patterns of Spatial and Temporal Distribution of the Asparagus Miner (Diptera: Agromyzidae): Implications for Management

“…This may indicate that most asparagus miners can deposit eggs far enough down on the asparagus stalk that they are not disturbed when harvesters pick spears. Indeed, previous studies have found pupae up to 3Ð7.6 cm below the soil surface (Lampert et al 1984), which would be enough refuge from pickers. In addition, picking asparagus spears also did not affect emergence of adults, indicating that asparagus miner adults remain protected within the base of the plant as pupae.…”

“…It is a cosmopolitan species, commonly found in asparagus growing regions of the world (Giard 1904, Fink 1913, Dingler 1934, Barnes 1937. It overwinters as a pupa and adults appear in the Þeld in Michigan during May (Lampert et al 1984). During spring, asparagus spears are picked regularly, resulting in no canopy, but after harvest, asparagus plants branch out to form a canopy, often referred to as fern.…”

“…Previous studies have demonstrated that adult asparagus miners are more abundant in the canopy than near the ground, and prefer recently planted Þelds to older ones (Tuell 2003). Early in the season, most miner pupae occur Ϸ3 cm below the soil surface, but as the miners prepare to overwinter, most pupae can be found between 5Ð7 cm belowground in the stem (Lampert et al 1984). However, knowledge of asparagus miner distribution at the Þeld and betweenÞeld scale is lacking, which our study aimed to address.…”

Identification of plant semiochemicals and evaluation of their interactions with early spring insect pests of asparagus

“…Of the two species, the asparagus miner is the more serious of the pests, because it is closely associated with the spread of a pathogenic species of fungus that can cause early decline of fields (Barnes 1937;Morrison III et al 2011). Asparagus miners have two generations in temperate regions and are present throughout the asparagus growing season (Lampert et al 1984;Morrison III, Andresen et al 2014). The larvae cause damage by feeding on the asparagus stem internally while the adults feed only on pollen, nectar and plant sap.…”

The development of the asparagus miner (Ophiomyia simplex Loew; Diptera: Agromyzidae) in temperate zones: a degree‐day model

“…Larvae bore into the stem after hatching, and feed on cortical tissue . The asparagus miner is usually bivoltine in temperate climates, and overwinters as a pupa . Adults emerge in Michigan in mid‐ to late‐May, with the first generation flight peaking around mid‐June .…”