In terms of general appearance, they tend to be small, drab in colour and with clubbed antennae.

[1] Even this is not universal; for example, Glischrochilus (Nitidulidae) have aposematic orange spots on their elytra.

[1] Larvae have frontal arms usually lyriform, the mandible mesal surface usually with well-developed mola, a maxillary articulating area usually present, a hypopharyngeal sclerome usually present, and two pretarsal setae.

[1] Cucujoidea usually have cryptic habits, living in fungi, leaf litter or dead wood.

The Nitidulidae are quite varied: some are saprophagous and mycetophagous like typical cucujoids, but others are associated with carrion, flowers, insect nests or stored food products.