Wing length 3.5 to 4.5mm. This picture-winged fly has four dark areas on each wing with the basal and discal areas separated. Abdominal tergite 3 has a grey stripe at the base which is larger in the middle. The lower face is reddish-yellow. Third antennal segment pointed at the tip.

Herina nigrina is very similar but has a slightly smaller and less extensive wing clouds. In particular, the cloud over the r-m cross vein doesn't extend unbroken to the costa.

Check that your specimen has all of these features:

• row of short bristles on vein r1
• single katepisternum bristle
• a ridge along the centre of the face
• lower face yellow
• veins r4+5 and m are parallel to the wing tip
• check that the wing cloud pattern matches the images displayed

Calcerous grasslands, saltmarshes, brownfield sites and spoil heaps.

June to August

Widespread in England, mainly coastal in Wales.

Rare or under-recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.