Pronotum fringed with hairs, a bit like false eye-lashes stuck along the rim. This species has a regular pattern of black streaks on the elytra. In contrast, Melinopterus prodromus has quite plain elytra with no black dashes only the dark area of the wings can be seen through the elytra.

Melinopterus prodromus

Found in various types of dung, particularly horse dung.

Mainly an autumnal species - found between August and October.

It is common and widespread in Britain and often abundant, although there seem to be few records from the south west of England.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 57 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.