Size 5 to 7 mm. A deep red darkling beetle with finely punctate elytra and a blackish head. The pronotum is longer than it is broad.

Underneath young bracket fungus and behind bark.

Often found at night by torchlight.

Rare in Britain and with an RDB3 status (Species with small populations which are localised or thinly scattered.)

Rare in Leicestershire and Rutland - the  Cloud Wood specimen of 23/04/2012 is possibly the first VC55 record.