Crioceris

Belongs within: Criocerinae.

Crioceris is an Old World genus of leaf beetles with patterned elytra (Riley et al. 2002). The species C. asparagi and C. duodecimpunctata are significant pests on asparagus crops.

Don’t disparage asparagus

Published 24 December 2025

Among the more distinctive subgroups of the chrysomelids or leaf beetles are the members of the subfamily Criocerinae. These are oblong, long-bodied beetles with the head and pronotum narrower than the elytra, and a distinctive X-shaped pattern of grooves on the front of the head (Riley et al. 2002). They are also characterised by the presence of stridulatory structures on the pygidium, the end of the abdomen (Matsumura et al. 2014). The criocerines are a relatively small subgroup of the Chrysomelidae, including only about a paltry 1500 species worldwide. Most of those species are divided between only a few large genera, one of which is Crioceris.

The primary reason for the low number of genera is the difficulty in identifying suitable features for dividing the lineage up more finely. Crioceris species have tarsal claws that are separated, not fused at the base, and the sides of the prothorax are more or less arcuate (Riley et al. 2002). They may also be distinguished by having a single spur on the tibial apex, and a notched end to the male aedeagus (Matsumura et al. 2014). There is some evidence that the genus Crioceris may be the sister lineage to the bulk of other criocerines.

Crioceris species attract the most attention from humans due to their association with Asparagus plants, on which many species are exclusive feeders. The common asparagus beetle C. asparagi is a major pest of asparagus Asparagus officinalis crops, with both adults and larvae stripping the fronds of leaves and despoiling new spears. Originally a native of Eurasia, this beetle has become widespread in North America in association with its host plant. A second species, the spotted asparagus beetle C. duodecimpunctata, has become similarly widespread but is considered less of a nuisance as the larvae confine their attention to the plant’s berries. Conversely, at least one Crioceris species has been considered for deliberate dispersal outside its native range as a biological control agent for bridal creeper Asparagus asparagoides, itself a significant invasive. So once again, the question of whether your presence is considered offensive depends significantly on whom you’re acting against.

Systematics of Crioceris

Characters (Riley et al. 2002): Head with X-shaped groove between eyes; eyes emarginate near antennal insertions; prothorax feebly constricted near base, with sides arcuate; elytra with dark spots or pattern; tarsal claws separated, divergent from base to apex; pygidium not exposed; aedeagal tegmen Y-shaped, not forming ring around median lobe.

Crioceris Geoffroy 1762 (nom. cons.)RC02
    |--C. (Crioceris)RC02
    |    |--C. (C.) asparagi (Linnaeus 1758)RC02
    |    `--C. (C.) duodecimpunctata (Linnaeus 1758)RC02
    `--C. (Pseudolema Jacoby 1903)RC02

Crioceris incertae sedis:
  C. clarkiJ89a
  C. cyanellaR26
  C. fuscomaculataB89
  C. impressa [incl. C. castanea]B90
  C. liliiC01
  C. melanopaR26
  C. merdigeraC01 [=Lema merdigeraL02]
  C. nigripesB74
  C. obliterataJ89b
  C. quadrimaculataR26
  C. quadripustulataJ89a
  C. quatuordecimpunctataC01
  C. recens Blackburn 1889B89
  C. seminigra Jacoby 1889J89a
  C. semipunctataJ89a
  C. subpolitaB90
  C. unicolorJ89a

*Type species of generic name indicated

References

[B90] Baly, J.-S. 1890. Contributions a la faune Indo-Chinoise. 6^e mémoire. Sagridae, Crioceridae, Chrysomelidae, Hispidae. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France, 6^e série 9: 485–492.

[B89] Blackburn, T. 1889. Notes on Australian Coleoptera, with descriptions of new species. Part III. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, series 2, 4 (2): 445–482.

[B74] Britton, E. B. 1974. Coleoptera (beetles). In: CSIRO. The Insects of Australia: A textbook for students and research workers. Supplement 1974 pp. 62–89. Melbourne University Press.

[C01] Csiki, E. 1901. Bogarak [Coleopteren]. In: Horváth, G. (ed.) Zichy Jenő Gróf Harmadik Ázsiai Utazása [Dritte Asiatische Forschungsreise des Grafen Eugen Zichy] vol. 2. Zichy Jenő Gróf Harmadik Ázsiai Utazásának Állattani Eredményei [Zoologische Ergebnisse der Dritten Asiatischen Forschungsreise des Grafen Eugen Zichy] pp. 75–120. Victor Hornyánszky: Budapest, and Karl W. Hierseman: Leipzig.

[J89a] Jacoby, M. 1889a. Viaggio di Leonardo Fea in Birmania e regioni vicine. XVII.—List of the phytophagous Coleoptera obtained by Signor L. Fea at Burmah and Tenasserim, with descriptions of the new species. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova, Serie 2^a, 7: 147–237.

[J89b] Jacoby, M. 1889b. List of the phytophagous Coleoptera collected by Signor Modigliani at Nias and Sumatra, with descriptions of the new species. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova, Serie 2^a, 7: 278–287.

[L02] Latreille, P. A. 1802. Histoire Naturelle, générale et particulière des crustacés et des insectes vol. 3. Familles naturelles des genres. F. Dufart: Paris.

Matsumura, Y., I. Yao, R. G. Beutel & K. Yoshizawa. 2014. Molecular phylogeny of the leaf beetle subfamily Criocerinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and the correlated evolution of reproductive organs. Arthropod Systematics and Phylogeny 72 (2): 95–110.

[RC02] Riley, E. G., S. M. Clark, R. W. Flowers & A. J. Gilbert. 2002. Chrysomelidae Latreille 1802. In: Arnett, R. H., Jr, M. C. Thomas, P. E. Skelley & J. H. Frank (eds) American Beetles vol. 2. Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea pp. 617–691. CRC Press.

[R26] Risso, A. 1826. Histoire naturelle des principales productions de l’Europe méridionale et particulièrement de celles des environs de Nice et des Alpes maritimes vol. 5. F.-G. Levrault: Paris.