[1] This species is native to North America (Canada, United States and Mexico) and it has been introduced in Asia and Europe, where it arrived in 2013.

[6] This species feeds almost exclusively (oligophagy) on leaves and flowers of the family Asteraceae, tribe Heliantheae, e.g. sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) and rough cockleburs (Xanthium strumarium), with a marked predilection for common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), which is invasive in Europe and Asia.

[7][6] The eggs are laid on the underside of young leaves of the host plants.

Before the pupation, the beetles form cocoons on a leaf tip.

After hatching, the adults remain on their host plants, but later they can migrate up to 25 km within one day.