Presumed to be polylectic, but pollen sources not known. Visits Trifolium pratense (Fabaceae); Rubus (Rosaceae); Lonicera (Caprifoliaceae); Scabiosa (Dipsacaceae); Cnicus (Asteraceae).
Rasmont (1988) lists the following forage species: Trollius europaeus (Ranunculaceae); Vicia cracca, Vicia pannonica striata, Trifolium sp., Trifolium thalii, Trifolium pratense, Anthyllis vulneraria (Fabaceae); Eryngium bourgatii (Apiaceae); Ligustrum sp. (Oleaceae); Echium sp., Echium vulgare (Boraginaceae); Lamium album, Lamium purpureum, Stachys alopecuros, Prunella sp. (Lamiaceae); Rhinanthus sp., Rhinanthus alectorolophus (Scrophulariaceae); Knautia arvensis (Dipsacaceae); Phyteuma orbiculare (Campanulaceae); Carduus carlinoides, Cirsium sp., Cirsium eriophorum, Cirsium oleraceum, Centaurea jacea, Centaurea montana (Asteraceae).
In Spain, Ornosa & Ortiz-Sánchez (2004) list the following plant families as providing forage: Fabaceae, Boraginaceae, Asteraceae and Lamiaceae.
In Bulgaria, males are regular visitors to Cirsium appendiculatum (Asteraceae) in early August (pers. obs.)
Alireza et al. (2007) list Medicago sativa, Coronella variata, Onobrychis altissiana (Fabaceae); Phlomis olivieri, Marrubium sp., Salvia virgata, Stachys sp. (Lamiaceae); Echium amoenum (Boraginaceae) as forage sources in Iran.
Benton (2006) reports that in the UK the species favoured Lamiaceae, Trifolium spp. (Fabaceae); Lonicera periclymenum (Caprifoliaceae) and Dipsacus fullonum (Dipsacaceae). Apparently, in New Zealand it is reported to visit Trifolium pratense, Lotus corniculatus (Fabaceae) and Hypericum perforatum (Hypericaceae). Echium vulgare (Boraginaceae) is an important nectar source.
Anagnostopoulos (2009) reports a queen foraging at Vicia cracca (Fabaceae) flowers in Greece.