Head small, shiny, more or less tapering towards the back. Pronotum shiny, usually dark, less often yellow or orange. Elytra relatively short; last 2 or 3 tergites protrude beyond the elytra, but are covered with membranous wings. Elytra one-coloured or with contrasting spots on the tips. Inner side of mandibles without a tooth – the main determining feature of the genus. There are many similar species, usually indistinguishable based on field photographs.
