The fact that these insects migrate during the spring and summer time to cultivated fields also means that they show a lot of variation in their host plant choices by season: feeding on desert weeds in the winter and feeding on cultivated fields in the summer. They also show incredible variation in food choices between populations in different states, and these choices may change depending on host plant diversity, availability, defenses, etc.
The seasonal movement of these insects to agricultural areas also underscores a substantial shift in their host plant preferences: desert vegetation in winter and cultivated fields in summer. Additionally, there is considerable variation in food choices among populations within different regions, which can be influenced by factors such as host plant diversity, availability, and defenses.