It is metallic blue-black in color with cream or yellow spots on its red-bordered elytra.

[2][3] The adult beetles and the larvae strip the needle-like leaves off the asparagus fronds, depriving the plants of the ability to photosynthesize and store energy for future years.

Additionally, they chew the spears and lay a lot of eggs on them, rendering the crop unusable.

The adults overwinter in a dormant state underground or in nearby leaf litter.

The parasitic wasp, Tetrastichus coeruleus, occurring mainly in the United States and Europe, can cause up to 71% mortality in the field and has been successfully used for biological control.