Species of Glyptholaspis, Holostaspella and Macrocheles can perform arrhenotoky, the production of male offspring from unfertilised eggs.

The majority of species are coprophilous, meaning they live in animal dung and feed on the prey available there (oligochaete worms, nematodes, arthropod eggs and larvae).

Melicharids therefore attach to insects (e.g. scarab beetles or flies) to be carried to fresh dung deposits; this is known as phoresis.

[4] Other macrochelids occupy habitats such as forest litter, decaying plant debris, beach wrack or the nests of various animals.

[3] Because of their predatory nature, some macrochelids have potential as biological control agents of pest insects, such as flies and thrips.