Trichodes apiarius is an hairy small beetle (9–16 mm) with shining blue or black head and scutellum.
The elongated elytra show a bright red colour with black bands.
This species can easily be distinguished from Trichodes alvearius which doesn't have the black terminal band at the end of its shields.

Pfänder Mountain, Bregenz, Vorarlberg, Austria, 12 July 2013