4.5-5mm. A black glossy species with the top of the mesosternum relatively straight or only weakly curved. Legs and antennae are dark red-brown. The pattern of stria on the elytra is distinctive.

Found in a variety of habitats including dung and rotten fungi, also found in grass tussocks in the winter.

All year round.

Widespread and fairly frequent especially in southern Britain.

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 11 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.