Off topic: aphid preference for a weed
Roy M. Sachs (Tue, 14 Oct 2003 10:04:20 PDT)

For the past year I've seen little or no black or green aphids on
alstroemeria, but multitudes of them on Crepis species (they are
pernicious annual weeds in my greenhouse, field and shade shelters).
Most of the aphids don't begin to go to the Crepis until they have
begun to bolt, form an inflorescence axis.

The USDA has a page-full of Crepis pics at,
http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/plant_profile.cgi/….

Can't find mention of this in our Integrated Pest Management pubs.
Anyone out there with info or can confirm this seeming preference of
aphids for Crepis?

Also I should note that our rabbit population seems to prefer the
Crepis (before bolting when they are excellent salad leaves) to
alstroemeria...not that I'm trying to feed the rabbits.

Roy
Davis, California; Sacramento Valley, very hot summers (over 40 C),
wet and cool winters (rarely down to -4 C except when Siberian
express drops temps to -8 C) with moderate spring and fall temps.
Dry winds are the norm in summer and fall.