[4] When the adult beetle emerges from the pupa, it begs for food one more time before making its way to the surface of the ground.

[3] The red wood ant is inactive in winter and the immature beetle leaves its nest.

At this stage it is positively attracted to light which encourages it to move into more open areas of meadowland.

It favours ants in the genus Myrmica, but failing them, it is attracted by other genera such as Tetramorium and Solenopsis.

[5] When it has found a suitable nest, the beetle produces secretions from an "appeasement gland" which discourage the ants from attacking it.