Resembles Dicyrtomina ornata with a solid patch of dark pigment at the posterior end of the abdomen, but unlike D. ornata the abdomen has an entirely purple ground colour with lighter orange reticulations. In D. violacea the head is lighter than the body, whereas in Dicyrtoma fusca the color of the head is similar to the body. 

Vegetation and leaf litter.

All year round.

Seems to be rare in the UK with few records but probably under-reported due to confusion with other species. 

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.