3 - 4 mm. Black with red elytra (wing cases) and a yellow patches on the hind corners of the otherwise black and glossy pronotum. Abdominal tergites have pale yellow hind margins.

• 3-4mm
• black head
• black pronotum with side margins
• pronotum smooth and glossy (no microsculpture)
• tergites black with pale yellow hind margins
• maxillary palps pale yellow

In plant litter, moss, under leaf rosettes, or amongst soil crumbs on the soil surface.

All year round.

It is a useful predator of other small invertebrates in the garden or in agriculture, feeding especially on aphids.

Common and widespread in Britain.

Common in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 449 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.