The prothorax tapers sharply to the head. The head is small, with long antennae, which have four segments, and a short, sharp beak. Males can be distinguished from females by the longer hind femora and spines on the hind leg. These insects are found throughout the Australian mainland, but are absent from Tasmania. They are also found in Indonesia, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
Crusader bugs feed on a range of native and introduced plants.
In the garden they are often seen on citrus plants, but are also particularly common on a variety of native wattles and eucalypts. They have been recorded on camphor laurels, grapes, pawpaws, plumbago and roses. Adults live for about three and a half months, mating regularly throughout their life span. Several eggs are laid every five to six days, with only about a third surviving the various larval stages to reach adulthood.