The species name violacea is derived from the Latin "violācĕus, a, um" meaning "violet", and refers to the beetle's blue color.

", meaning bíos or place of residence, suggesting that the genus typically inhabits animal-based substances.

Whilst in Bordeaux prison, Latreille discovered the beetle, which had previously been described by Fabricius in 1775 as part of the Dermestes genus.

It is roughly 2.5 times longer than it is wide, has a slightly curved shape, and has a iridescent metallic blue-green to green hue across its body, including its legs.

The terminal segment of the jaw palpi is not shaped like an axe as in the Korynetes violaceus species, but is spindle-shaped and truncated.

The pronotum of this species is not evenly curved like Korynetes, but rather widens in a relatively straight line towards the back, making it wider in the last third than the head.

The base is curved and ends in pointed posterior angles at the sides, and is edged and coarsely punctured, more so than Korynetes.

At the end of the abdomen is a pincer-shaped appendage called the urogomph, which is attached to a sclerotized plate that leaves the base of the last abdominal segment exposed.

[11] It is common to find the beetle feeding on oilseeds, aged cheeses, dried, cured or smoked meat products and bacon.

[6] The beetle is rarely of relevance to forensic science due to their preference for corpses in advanced stages of decomposition.

Studies in Switzerland have confirmed the appearance of imagines during the fourth stage of body decomposition (ammoniacal decay) and were found on desiccated carcasses.