One of the commonest winter craneflies. Body length of about 7-9 mm. Typical specimens have a wing spot over vein r-m, which when combined with the plain brown abdomen and the strongly curved second anal vein makes ID reasonably straightforward.

Your specimen should have the following features:

• a more or less plain brown abdomen
• a strongly curved second anal vein (unique to Trichocera)
• a wing spot over vein r-m

Woods, hedges and gardens. Can be found in compost bins.

Autumn through to spring.

Fairly frequent and widespread in Britain.

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.