Length 5 to 7 mm. Whilst normally a well-marked beetle where the black elytra have a dark red blotch and pale yellow-brown in the rear third, it can be variable and could be confused with other similar species. A key feature is the thin yellow line on the side margins of the pronotum. See ID guidance below.

Sphaeridium substriatum can look very similar.

• 5-7mm
• black with pale yellow apical patches on the elytra
• Pronotum with yellow on the side margins
• elytral shoulders further forward than the scutellum
• mid and hind femora reddish yellow or yellow with a dark spot

This species has a red ID rating and unless identified by a known expert you must provide a satisfactory explanation of how it was identified for the record to be accepted.

Around cattle dung.

Spring to autumn.

Associated with cow dung.

Fairly common and widespread in Britain.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 34 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.