Length 8 or 9 mm. Bronze with conspicuous purple ocellate depressions on the elytra. Antennae are black, tibiae are brown and the rest of the legs are black but often with metallic, usually bluish, reflections. The head is wider than the quadrate pronotum.

E. riparius is similar though a little smaller and more olive green.

Marshland and on bare mud at the side of fresh water.

All year round, but most easily seen in hot weather.

Quite common and widespread in Britain.

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 180 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.