All species are ambrosia beetles and generally breed in large diameter host material. Apparently pheromones are produced and large numbers of simultaneous attacks are frequently observed. Mated pairs tunnel into the heartwood and introduce ectosymbiotic fungi into their tunnels upon which they and their brood feed. For the most part the wood is not actually consumed. Larvae move freely inside the parental tunnels and excavate individual pupal cells off the main tunnels.
Adults emerge through the original entry hole.
Platypodids can only breed in undegraded, recently killed host material, with a high moisture content. Decaying wood or wood which has dried out is unsuitable. Normally, only a single generation can be produced in a given host. Platypus flavicornis and P. quadridentatus are respectively restricted to pines and oaks. Platypus compositus and P. parallelus are extremely polyphagous and will breed in most trees within their ranges.