 The species shows a marked preference for the sap of "Gardenia thunbergia" and "Gardenia volkensii", and its nymphs possess powerfully offensive scent glands to discourage predation or interference.This defensive secretion has been analysed and found to consist largely of acetic acid (66%), trans-2-hexenal (17%) and 3-hydroxybutanal (14%).Even so the adults are eaten in Zimbabwe.