A large rove beetle with extended exposed abdomen covered by hardened plates and composed of 8 segments. Uniformly black body covered in fine, black hairs (setae). Shortened wing cases (elytra) which cover the thorax, concealing a folded second pair of wings which enable flight.

• 20-30(+)mm
• All black
• Dull matt head, pronotum and elytra
• Head wider than the pronotum
• Very large mandibles, usually toothed
• Pronotum almost square with rounded corners

This beetle is found in damp conditions in most natural environments including: woodland, hedgerows, parks and gardens, where it relies on decaying natural matter.

April to October.

Like most other rove beetles it is fast moving and capable of flight, though it is rarely seen flying.

Fairly frequent and widespread in Britain.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 171 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.