The larvae feed on seeds in a capsule of Dioscorea species, but have also been recorded tunneling the stems, or feeding on the leaves of Dioscorea tokoro.
The herbaceous layer, which is exceptionally dense in springtime, includes Collinsonia, Dioscorea, and broad beechfern.
Larvae have been recorded feeding on garden beans, coffee berries, dead sugarcane and Dioscorea species.
Diosgenin, a steroid sapogenin, is the product of hydrolysis by acids, strong bases, or enzymes of saponins, extracted from the tubers of Dioscorea wild yam, such as the Kokoro.
Larvae have also been recorded on various other plants, including Dioscorea species, Diplocyclos palmatus, Toona australis, Eucalyptus, Portulaca oleracea, Phytolacca octandra and Physalis ixocarpa.
The larvae feed on a wide range of plants, including Beta, Dioscorea, Paspalum, Zea, Pithecelbobium, Vigna, Wisteria, Toona, Musa, Salix, Cayratia and Cissus species.