It is a stocky bee, notable for its brilliant metallic blue- and black-banded colors.

Originally described by Danish entomologist Johan Christian Fabricius in 1804 as Melecta nitidula – from a collection in the Aru Islands or northern Australia – it was given its current scientific name Thyreus nitidulus in 1959 by M. A.

[1] The specific epithet is derived from the diminutive of the Latin adjective nitidus "shining" (i.e. "little shiny one").

Pale blue hair covers much of the face on the head, as well as patches on the sides of the thorax and the legs.

The abdomen is striped with bright blue and black, and the transparent wings are purple-tinged brown in colour.