Length: 6-7mm. This is one of six similar UK species which have 2 yellow spots on the elytra, though only four have so far been recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland. It has bicoloured legs with the black merging gradually into the yellow. It also has a short central keel on the basal tergites (the first below the elytra).

It forages in open but damp habitats

Most often seen in spring and summer.

It is a predator of Springtails and like many Stenus species, it has adapted mouthparts to help it catch and hang onto its prey.

Widespread and fairly frequent in England and Wales, less common further north.

Common in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 179 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.