They live inside the nests of ants of the genus Carebara and adults are only rarely seen in the open, most often at night when they get attracted to lights.

The species was first described by J. O. Westwood as Platyrhopalus melleii, named after entomological collector André Melly of Manchester who had obtained a specimen from Malabar.

[1] Adults live inside the nests of ants of the genus Carebara and are rarely seen except when attracted to lights at night.

The margin of the antennal club is more rounded, lacking any sign of notches, and the edge is fringed with fine hairs.

They can produce an explosive blast of hot quinones like other flanged bombardier beetles, but this defense is never used against ants.