Oligolectic on Asteraceae (Westrich, 1989; Ivanov et al, 2005). In Britain 92% or more of pollens in a sample which Raw (1974) analysed were of plants in this family. (Amiet et al., 2004; Müller et al., 2007; Raw, 1974; Westrich, 1989; A. Müller, unpublished, based on 11 pollen samples from 9 different localities and on field observations).
Flowers visited: The species is usually associated with thistles and knapweeds, visiting for example, Cirsium vulgare and Centaurea nigra (Asteraceae). It also flies to Ranunculus (Ranunculaceae); Cheiranthus cheiri (Brassicaceae); Geranium pratense (Geraniaceae); Daucus carota (Apiaceae); Linaria repens (Scrophulariaceae); Helianthus, Senecio, Cnicus vulgare, Hypochoeris radicata and Crepis capillaris (Asteraceae).
Banaszak & Romasenko (1989), copied by Stanisavljević (2000), list the following forage sources: Centaurea, Cirsium, Calendula, Hypochoeris, Taraxacum and Leontodon (Asteraceae).
Pekkarinen (1998) lists plants in the following genera of Asteraceae as pollen sources in Finland: Centaurea, Pilosella, Leontodon and Taraxacum.