Size 3 to 4.5 mm. This all brown beetle has a pronotum resembling a monk's cowl. It has linear and punctuated striae and elytra that are very parallel-sided. Anobium beetles have a groove along the hind coxa that can accomodate the femur. It has a deep longitudinal impression at the rear of the metasternum which extends to the apical margin - a feature which distinguishes it from the very similar Anobium inexpectatum.

Anobium inexpectatum - lacks the deep longitudinal impression at the rear of the metasternum.

Now found mostly in the company of humans, where it has adapted very successfully to exploit human-created habitats such as old timber in buildings and furniture.

Adults are most active in spring and summer.

In the larval stage (known as woodworm) it bores into wood and feeds on it. Adults do not feed; they just reproduce. The female lays her eggs into cracks in wood or inside old exit holes, if available.

This very common species is found throughout Britain, but is most common in the south and east.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 43 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.