Cerylonidae are small to tiny (0.8–3 mm (0.031–0.118 in)), smooth, shiny, hairless beetles, only lightly punctured.

They are most common under the bark of dead trees, but can also occur in compost and other decaying plant material.

Little is known specifically about their biology but they are thought to be either predators that feed on other small animals, or fungus-feeders.

The "Cerylonid Series" is a cluster of highly derived former Cucujoidea families considered by recent authorities to comprise a separate superfamily Coccinelloidea.

[1] Cerylonidae in their current circumscription comprise the subfamilies Ceryloninae, Loeblioryloninae and Ostomopsinae in the sense of Ślipiński (1990), with around 344 species in 38 genera:[1][2] Data sources: s = Ślipiński (1990),[2] i = ITIS,[4] c = Catalogue of Life,[5] g = GBIF,[6] b = Bugguide.net[7]