A small, black, hairy fly with a rather plump body and milky coloured wings. There are other similar species and detailed examination is needed for a safe id.

This family is usually associated with woodland, but little seems to be known about the life cycle and habits of Lonchaea tarsata at present. Current thinking is that it is unlikely that L. tarsata is associated with dead wood as most of the other members of this family are - it may just breed in decaying organic material.

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This species seems to be uncommon in Britain (In MacGowan's RES key, he mentions Inverness, Caernarfon, Berks, Bucks and Gloucs as the British distribution.)

Rare or under recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland. The Sapcote record of 15th May 2017 seems to be the first record of this species in VC55.