Description

Body length 6mm. A small greyish bodied fly with an orange top to the head with a dark, bluish stripe, the antennae are black and the lower face white. The thorax is grey with several dark lines along it and the wings have a slightly darkened edge and two smudged marks. The front legs are black, the mid and rear legs are reddish.

Habitat

Often coastal on dunes, shingle but also found on brownfield sites and calcareous grasslands. The larvae mainly feed on terrestrial snails.

Status and distribution

Widespread and common in southern Britain, less common in Scotland. Not often recorded in Nottinghamshire and recorded twice at Netherfield Lagoons.

Best time to see

All year.