Polylectic, but individuals bees exhibited a high degree of foraging consistency for the provisioning of single cells. Eleven different pollen types representing 10 plant families were found. In 1996, Ecballium elaterium (Cucurbitaceae) was the dominant pollen present in all samples but it was absent in 1997. Tamarix gallica (Tamaricaeae) was the dominant pollen type in 1997 and absent in 1996. A third pollen, Centaurium (Gentianaceae) was present in both years and represented 70% of some samples.
Mavromoustakis (1948; 1951; 1952) lists the following forage species: Sinapis alba (Brassicaceae); Anthemis, Centaurea hyalolepis, Dittrichia (=Inula) crithmoides (Asteraceae); Teucrium polium, Teucrium divaricatum, Thymus capitatus, Vitex agnus-castus, Mentha longifolia, Satureja incana (Lamiaceae); Thymelaea hirsuta (Thymelaeaceae); Kali turgidum (=Salsola kali)(Amaranthaceae), Noaea mucronata (Chenopodiaceae); Ferula sp., Eryngium creticum, Eryngium maritimum, Foeniculum piperitum (Apiaceae); Polygonum equisetiforme (Polygonaceae); Drimia (=Urginea) maritima, Scilla autumnalis (Asparagaceae); Zygophyllum album (Zygophyllaceae); Echium sericeum (Boraginaceae) and Chrozophora verbascifolia (Euphorbiaceae).
In France, species visited (probably for nectar) include Heliotropium (Boraginaceae); Geranium (Geraniaceae); Armeria type (Plumbaginaceae); Pinus (Pinaceae); Plantago (Plantaginaceae); Thalictrum type (Ranunculaceae); and unidentified Rosaceae and Chenopodiaceae or Amaranthaceae. (Rust, Cambon & Vaissiere, 2004).
Batra (1967) found males and females N. variegatus on a wide ange of plants, but pollen foraging females were most abundant on pomegranate (Punica grenatum L.). Males and females of N. variegatus were collected on all of the curcurbit crop species (Luffa, Momordica, Cucumis, Citrullus and Cucurbita), but females carried no pollen.
Vereecken (in. litt. 2007) records both sexes of the species visiting Eryngium campestre (Apiaceae).