A small (3 to 4 mm) beetle. It is greeny black in colour; the elytra have studded rows running down their length.

Lema cyanella is similar but distinguished by having the pronotum constriction near the middle and not near the base as in Oulema.

• 3-4mm
• all metallic blue (sometimes more green or black)
• pronotum with basal transverse impression smooth (occasionally a few coarse punctures but not finely punctured)

Amongst cereal crops and in grassy places.

Most often seen in spring and summer.

Both the adult beetle and its larvae feed on grass and cereal leaves, chewing them to only the skeleton remains. It can be an agricultural pest.

Quite common and widespread throughout Britain, particularly in England and Wales.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.