The larvae pupate[2] inside fruit of Spirostachys africana.

Larvae develop with the growing fruits which show no external damage.

The larvae jack-knife inside the fallen segments, causing them to move about erratically and vigorously, to the surprise of the uninitiated.

A similar phenomenon occurs with the Mexican jumping bean, Sebastiania sp., which also belong to the Euphorbia family.

This bean is parasitised by the moth Cydia saltitans.