What is "asparagus beetle"

Asparagus \As*par"a*gus\ ([a^]s*p[a^]r"[.a]*g[u^]s), n. [L., fr. Gr. 'aspa`ragos, 'asfa`ragos; cf. sparga^n to swell with sap or juice, and Zend [,c]paregha prong, sprout, Pers. asparag, Lith. spurgas sprout, Skr. sphurj to swell. Perh. the Greek borrowed from the Persian. Cf. Sparrowgrass.]

1. (Bot.) A genus of perennial plants belonging to the natural order Liliace[ae], and having erect much branched stems, and very slender branchlets which are sometimes mistaken for leaves. Asparagus racemosus is a shrubby climbing plant with fragrant flowers. Specifically: The Asparagus officinalis, a species cultivated in gardens.

2. The young and tender shoots of Asparagus officinalis, which form a valuable and well-known article of food.

   Note: This word was formerly pronounced sparrowgrass; but this pronunciation is now confined exclusively to uneducated people.

   Asparagus beetle (Zo["o]l.), a small beetle ( Crioceris asparagi) injurious to asparagus.

n. A small beetle ((taxlink Crioceris asparagi species noshow=1)) that is destructive to asparagus.

Crioceris or asparagus beetle is a genus of the family Chrysomelidae of beetles. The name is neo Latin from Greek κριός, ram and κέρας, horn.