Length: Male 6 to 9.5 mm, Female 6.8 to 10 mm. This group of flies, sometimes called Dance flies, are predators of other insects, often tackling large prey, using their long, dagger-like snout. This species is distinguished from the very similar Empis livida by having four dark stripes on the thorax - a central short pair and longer outer stripes. Like Empis livida, the legs are mainly red/orange.

Along hedgerows where it takes other insects and nectars on flowers.

April and May.

Males of E. opaca and E. tessellata  present a 'gift' to the female, in the form of a dead insect, before mating takes place. Females will not mate with males who do not present a gift.

Fairly common and widespread in England and Wales, fewer records from Scotland.

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland