The flowers are cross-pollinated by several kinds of bees. Various insects feed on Hollyhock. These include the caterpillars of the skipper Pyrgus communis (Common Checkered Skipper), the caterpillars of the butterflies Vanessa cardui (Painted Lady) and Strymon melinus (Gray Hairstreak), and the caterpillars of the moths Acontia aprica (Exposed Bird-Dropping Moth), Anomis erosa (Yellow Scallop Moth), Autographa precationis (Common Looper Moth), and Mamestra configurata (Bertha Armyworm). Other insects that feed on Hollyhock include Apion longirostre (Hollyhock Weevil; a.k.a. Rhopalapion longirostre) and Popillia japonica (Japanese Beetle). This last insect can cause major damage to this plant. The foliage is palatable to cattle and other hoofed mammalian herbivores.