Eggs are laid in the soil by females. 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. Here, they feed on the bee's eggs and the
pollen and
nectar it had collected. The larva
pupates in the bee's nest, and leaves the nest to seek a mate directly afterwards. The beetle and its life cycle are described in detail by
Gerald Durrell in his autobiographical book
My Family and Other Animals. ==Sources==