The larva pupate underground, remaining moist to prevent desiccation and once they hatch, they feed on soil, mosses, dead insects, and leaf litter.

[2][3] Adults normally display black bodies with orange markings and have claws at the ends of their long legs.

They feed by holding the insect in their mouth, sucking out the soft tissues and juices and dropping the empty chitinous shells.

[2][5] Harpobittacus species exhibit some less common mating strategies, including pheromone secretion, nuptial gifts, and cryptic female choice.

Then females enter periods of sexual non receptivity and begin laying eggs, providing the male with the large gift the last–male sperm precedence, greatly increasing the odds of him parenting most of her offspring.

[9] By mating with multiple males, females can benefit by getting many nuptial gifts, which provide her with more energy for egg development.