[2] Adult Tribolium are beetles 3–6 mm in length and with colours ranging from reddish-brown to black.

The clypeus is enlarged and has genae forming shelf-like projections extending around the sides, partly dividing the eyes.

[2] The original distribution of Tribolium is suspected to be in the region of India, southwestern Asia and the eastern Mediterranean.

[2] Two species of Tribolium, T. castaneum and T. confusum, are probably the most common secondary pests of stored plant products.

[3] They are known to feed on wheat, maize, flour, starch, peas, beans, nuts, dried fruit, spices and herbarium specimens, and food products made from these such as bread and cakes.

[2] They can also attack animal products such as preserved insect specimens, hides, bird skins and milk powder.

[2] Phylogenetic analysis of the genus Tribolium indicates that it has two species groups, castaneum and confusum, which are both monophyletic and are most closely related to each other.

[1] The genus contains the following species:[6] For T. brevicornis, T. carinatum, T. gebieni, T. parallelus, T. linsleyi, T. setosum, and T. uezumii, see Aphanotus.