Length 8 to 10 mm. This is a distinctive blue-black or reddish-black species, with the legs, antennae and palps all being reddish brown and with a broad flange on the edge of the pronotum of the same colour.

Under logs and stones, often in well wooded areas.

All year round.

It was first recorded in England in 1942, but has since spread northwards and now reaches as far as Scotland.

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 22 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.