It lives in meadows, field margins and other warm sites in all but the far north of the continent.

It lacks hind wings and the elytra are correspondingly reduced in size.

When the larvae hatch, they climb into a flower, and await visiting solitary bees.

With their well-developed claws, the larvae attach themselves to the bee and return with it to its nest.

The beetle and its life cycle are described in detail by Gerald Durrell in his autobiographical book My Family and Other Animals.