A polylectic species. Pauly et al (2015) list the following forage species for H. smaragdulus ss: Eryngium campestre (Apiaceae); Tolpis virgata (Asteraceae); Lavandula latifolia, Origanum vulgare (Lamiaceae); Heliotropium europaeum (Boraginaceae); Malva sylvestris (Malvaceae).
Ebmer (1969) lists the following plants as forage species of H. smaragdulus s.l.: Centaurea, "Thistles" (Asteraceae); Mentha (Lamiaceae); Pimpinella anisum (Apiaceae).
Mavromoustakis (1948; 1951; 1952) lists the following forage sources in Cyprus: Anthemis, Carlina lanata, Pulicaria dysenterica, Inula viscosa (Asteraceae); Drimia (=Urginea) maritima (Hyacinthaceae); Polygonum equisetiforme (Polygonaceae); Teucrium cyprium, Teucrium polium, Marrubium vulgare (Lamiaceae), Heliotropium europeum (Boraginaceae); Gagea chlorantha (Liliaceae); Kickxia elatine (Plantaginaceae). (This list of forage plants is for H. smaragdulus s.l. and is not likely to include H. smaragdulus s.s)