A. cardamines feeds on most plants found within its habitat but the females selectively oviposit on young inflorescence of crucifers.

There is evidence that mated females have an anti-aphrodisiac and that their usage of the abdomen has a closely related function in presenting these pheromones to males.

The males are a common sight in spring, flying along hedgerows and damp meadows in search of the more reclusive female which lacks the orange and is often mistaken for other species of butterfly.

The undersides are mottled green and white and create a superb camouflage when settled on flowerheads such as cow parsley and garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata).

[7] If the stem of the inflorescence is not strong enough to support the weight of the female A. cardamines, they will cease egg laying.

[10] Females are extremely selective for host plant size, and larger flower heads are preferred to smaller ones.

When hatched, the larva consumes its egg shell before eating the seed pods of its host plant.

The fully grown larva leaves the food plant after its five larval instars and pupates on lower vegetation.

While the earlier stages of A. cardamines are easy to find since most individuals develop on a single plant, the pupa is very difficult to locate.

From data collected from 1976 to 1998, spring and summer temperatures were found to have increased by approximately 1 degree Celsius.

As a result, Muntjac deer are responsible for consuming up to nineteen percent of A. cardamines young through indirect predation.

[5] Both mated and virgin females respond to males with a raised abdomen, but the signals take different meanings.

Males will continue to court a perched, virgin female with a raised abdomen until she acquiesces or flees.