Damage from the larkspur mirid deters cattle grazing of larkspur by Michael H. Ralphs et al. These insects suck cell solubles from leaves and reproductive racemes, causing flowers to abort and leaves to desiccate.
Cattle generally prefer larkspur flowering heads, pods, and leaves, and are frequently poisoned.
The objective of this experiment was to determine if cattle would avoid eating mirid-damaged larkspur. Four cows were offered a choice of the 2 types of larkspur in 10 min. The cows did not select any mirid-damaged larkspur. If the density of mirids on larkspur is sufficiently high to damage most of the leaves and flowering racemes, grazing by cattle may be deterred, and subsequent poisoning avoided.