Length 14 to 17 mm. Large, unicolourous green metallic insect with very distinctive ridges running down the elytra and a sparse covering of hairs. A dipped line down the centre of the pronotum is present. Males have strongly toothed antennae that are longer then the head and pronotum, whilst females have simpler, shorter, segmented antennae.

Ctenicera cuprea is very similar but males of this species don't have such extreme pectinate antennae. The females are more difficult to distinguish with C. cuprea having less pronounced dentate antennae and C. pectinicornis females having longer projections.

Flower meadows on grasses and flowers.

Spring and summer.

A fairly wide distribution from northern England, down to Wales and Wiltshire in the south-west and Bedfordshire in the south-east. Most common in northern and western areas. Very scattered records in Scotland.

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.