The larvae feed are polyphagus and feed on various plants, including Galium mollugo, Hypericum perforatum, Pimpinella, Senecio and Solidago species.
Plants in the reserve include Mercurialis perennis (dog's mercury), Anemone nemorosa (wood anemone), plants in the genus Neottia (formerly known as Listera, commonly known as twayblades), Paris quadrifolia (True-lover's Knot or Herb Paris), Hyacinthoides non-scripta (formerly Endymion non-scriptus or Scilla non-scripta, Common Bluebell or Bluebell) and St John’s wort (Tipton's weed, chase-devil, or Klamath weed).
Examples of plants producing Type I Photosensitivity include Buckwheat and St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum).
Invasive weeds which compete with the plant for resources include bridal creeper (Asparagus asparagoides), bitou bush (Chrysanthemoides monilifera), blackberry (Rubus fruticosus agg.), St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum), lantana (Lantana camara), African olive (Olea africana subsp. africana) and privet (Ligustrum lucidum).
The larvae feed on various plants and have been recorded on Acer, Eupatorium, Helianthus, Dianthus caryophyllus, Helianthemum, Hypericum perforatum, Rhododendron, Trifolium, Sassafras, Gossypium hirsutum, Gossypium thurberi, Fragaria, Prunus persica, Rosa and Citrus species.
Other plants with suspected or known medicinal properties were also in their repertory and grow abundantly in the area, among them the lemon balm Melissa officinalis, St John’s Wort Hypericum perforatum, absinth Artemisia absinthium and the elder bush Sambucus nigra