The Cinnabar is a day flying moth that frequents open grassy habitats including waste ground, railway banks, gardens and woodland rides but perhaps most frequent on well drained rabbit-grazed grassland, mature sand-dunes and heathland.  The orange and black striped larvae feed on the leaves and flowers of Common Ragwort and groundsels. The bright colours of both the moths and larvae are a warning to predators of the toxins that they contain.