This species feeds only on fruit, but during experiments when Russian moths were offered human hands, they drilled their hook-like tongues under the skin and sucked blood.

This behavior seems to have evolved so that they may pass on salt to females during copulation, providing a nutritional boost for young larvae who feed on leaf-rich but sodium-poor diets.

[5] The increase in blood sucking behavior of these moths is related to the advantage of providing sodium to females to pass on to their offspring.

The number of olfactory sensilla is reduced in C. thalictri males that took a blood meal compared with those that did not in a research environment.

The selectivity of sensilla coeloconica olfactory sensory neurons was investigated and demonstrated sensitivity to fifteen vertebrate-related volatiles, including ammonia.

Tiny feathery tips along the antenna pick up the slightest hint of pheromone released by females to guide males to their mates.

Females can be selective at times by secreting very low amounts of pheromones and attract males who have high antenna sensitivity.