The red-headed cardinal beetle is medium-sized. It is found in woodland, along hedgerows, and in parks and gardens. The beetle is bright red, with black legs and long, black, toothed antennae. The best time to see it is between May and July.
The red-headed cardinal beetle undergoes complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult) over a two-to-three-year cycle. Larvae live for several years under loose bark of dead wood, feeding on other insects. Adults are predatory, appearing briefly from April to July, often found sunbathing or hunting on foliage.