In Europe, adults emerge in early spring and lay eggs in leaf buds of new shoots after spurges have resumed growing. Hatching larvae tunnel down young shoots, which have less toxic milky latex than older shoots. Larvae develop through three instars. Larval vascular feeding induces the formation of galls in subterranean stems and in spurge roots. Puparia are formed inside galls in midsummer, within which pupae overwinter. There is one generation per year. Additional work is required to confirm the phenology in North America.