Length 5 to 6 mm. This beetle has a blackish head, but a shiny red pronotum. The legs and antennae are pale straw coloured. The dark elytra show two large pale patches on each and are sharply truncate leaving the terminal abdominal segment exposed.

Generally associated with deciduous trees and also pine in woodland, wooded pasture and parkland, gardens etc. They fly well and may be found in almost any situation.

All year round.

Widespread and fairly frequent in England and Wales, rather more local elsewhere in Britain.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 101 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.