Adults are found on foliage of shrubs or on flowers in spring. Their occurrence in Fontenelle Forest is unknown but these were photographed in the spring. The larvae live mostly under bark on rotting logs, feeding on decaying wood and fungi. Adults are active at night, and may be attracted to lights. Some species may be attracted to fermenting baits.

Pedilus is a genus with 30 species in N. America. It was formerly placed in its own family.These beetles resemble soldier beetles. The contrasting red and black colors warn of their toxic nature. Like blister beetles they secrete the chemical cantharidin. Male pyrochroid beetles seek out blister beetles, climb onto them and lick off the cantharidin the blister beetles exude. Not only have these beetles developed a resistance to the cantharidin, they use the blistering agent to impress a female of their own species who then mates with them, whereupon most of the cantharidin is transfered to the female in the form of a sperm packet. The eggs the female subsequently lays are coated with cantharidin to protect them from being eaten before they hatch.