[2] It occurs throughout the Northern Hemisphere, and it is an introduced species in Australia.

The abdomen is reddish brown to black, and the legs, antennae, and other parts are cream-colored.

[1] The head, thorax, and legs have a coating of scaly yellowish or gray hairs.

The rounded body shape earned it the common name spider beetle.

The larva is up to 4.5 millimetres (0.18 in) long and yellowish white in color with a brownish head.