Alkannin is a natural dye that is obtained from the extracts of plants from the borage family Alkanna tinctoria that are found in the south of France.
The moth does not seem to be affected by any type of pyrrolizidine alkaloid present in many plant families, including the borage, legume, dogbane, and orchid families, and the tribes Senecioneae and Eupatorieae of the aster family.
The caterpillar feeds on borage Borago officinalis (known as Fidloqqom in Maltese), and on bugloss (plants from the genus Echium e.g. Pale Bugloss Echium italicum which is known as Lsien il-Fart Abjad in Maltese).
Tulips are cultivated on the rich volcanic soil of Mount Bozgush, and medicinal herbs such as pennyroyal, thyme, borage, nettle and liquorice grow wild on the mountain's slopes.