Relatively small (4-7mm), this fly has an overall brassy look with a chequered abdomen. The front of the thorax usually has short white stripes.

• 4-7mm
• arista bare
• eyes hairy
• parafacial bristles extend down to about a third of the antennae
• abdomen with grey patches
• scutellum with 4 pairs of marginal bristles - the apical pair are crossed
• abdominal segment 1 without median discal bristles
• abdominal segments 3+4 with median discal bristles
• no orange on the scutellum
• hind thoracic spiracle with two equal-sized flaps
• a long pteropleural bristle

Woodland - often seen on tree trunks and foliage.

April to June.

One generation per year. The larvae parasitise Winter Moths and moths from the family Tortricidae.

Fairly frequent and widespread in the southern half of Britain at least.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.