The insect lives mainly from plants, but also eat dead or other living insects.
The bug can not fly and is therefore found on the ground; very often in the vicinity of linden trees.
Especially after a soft winter these firebugs are found massively on the trunk or at the base of a linden tree.
However, they do not damage the tree.
After all,
they live from juices from dead leaves or seeds that they emptied with their suction nozzle.
In the case of linden trees, the wings are especially drawn.
To supplement their nutrients, they also empty dead insects.
They even eat their dead companions. They are therefore also called the reapers of nature, as they accelerate the clearance of dead leaves, plants and insects in this way.