A small fly (6 or 7 mm long) buff-grey with dark spots. Distinguished from other Coenosia by the combination of a pair of bristles very close to each other on the middle of the hind tibia and the mid and hind femora black with red tips.

Very similar to a number of Helina species, separated by the missing pre-alar bristle.

• 3 sternopleural bristles in a triangle
• missing pre-alar
• acrostichals: 0+0, dorsocentrals: 1+3
• plumose arista, black palps
• cross-veins not infuscated

Occupies a very broad range of habitats especially waste places and is sometimes found in greenhouses.

May to September

Predatory on small insects etc.

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain.

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.