These thermophilic beetles can mainly be encountered in sunny places on inflorescences of Apiaceae and Asteraceae species, especially Achillea species.
The caterpillars feed on a variety of herbaceous plants, mainly Dandelion (Taraxacum species), Plantains (Plantago species), Deadnettles (Lamium species), Yarrow (Achillea species), Blackberries (Rubus species), Nettles (Urtica species), Knapweeds (Centaurea species) and Strawberries (Fragaria species).
The larvae feed on the flowers of a wide range of plants, including Achillea, Scabiosa, Solidago, Senecio and Erica tetralix.
Plant species occurring with this cinquefoil in multiple habitat types include prairie junegrass (Koeleria macrantha), elk sedge (Carex geyeri), western yarrow (Achillea millefolium), silvery lupine (Lupinus argenteus), common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), and beautiful fleabane (Erigeron formosissimus).