Length around 4.5 mm. The small oval/globular form and dark red to brown colouration are distinctive. Some have vague elytral patterning at the margins, especially in teneral specimens.

Hyphydrus aubei is a similar size and shape but has a much more distinctive elytral pattern.

Their normal habitat is stagnant still water and temporary ponds, drainage channels and slow moving water, rich in detritus and vegetation.

March to October.

A generally common species throughout England and Wales, but with far fewer records north of south Yorkshire and Lancashire.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were approximately 55 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.