Length about 6 to 8 mm. It is usually black with a bright red thorax and pale legs.

This ground beetle is usually found where there is bare, sandy soil.

Best months are April to September

It lives during the day under stones and amongst leaf litter, coming out to hunt for small invertebrates at night.

Common and widespread in Britain.

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 68 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.