A large dark brown or blackish rove beetle with orange legs. It can measure up to 13 mm or more.

Various habitats including damp but well drained soils, in woods and under stones.

All year but mainly March to October.

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain.

Fairly frequent but sometimes local in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 53 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.