Length 6 mm. A slightly shiny greyish rove beetle with slightly orange legs and darkened knees. The head and thorax are studded with dimples.

In various types of grassland including dry places, but also in marshes, lakeshores and riverbanks.

Spring to autumn.

Common in Britain though becoming scarcer northwards.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 72 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.