Some species' larvae are notoriously polyphagous, e.g. the setaceous Hebrew character ("X. c-nigrum"), the food of which includes all sorts of core eudicots – including solanaceae and others which are poisonous to many herbivores – as well as some monocots. The latter are mainly Poaceae however, and few other monocots are utilized by "Xestia" larvae in general. Ericaceae, as well as Betulaceae and Poaceae, are key food plants for many of the high-latitude species. Gymnosperms are food plants of secondary importance in this genus, but Pinaceae form the mainstay or exclusive food of some species which occasionally become more than nuisance pests. Altogether, "Xestia" moths are only known as major pests within limited areas or in regard to specific plants, in which cases damage can be economically significant though.