Phaonia palpata

Length 6 to 8 mm. Generally dark grey with darker marks on the abdomen, four dark stripes on the thorax and further black marks on the scutellum. It has 3 pairs of dorso-central bristles behind the thoracic suture line and unusually large, flattened palps.

• dark palps that are long and flattened
• 2+1 sternopleurals (roughly in a triangle)
• acrostichas 0+1 (ignore fine hair-like bristles)
• dorsocentrals 2+3
• black femora, red/yellow tibia
• front tibia with median posterior bristle

Found in various habitats but may favour damper, well vegetated areas and woodland.

April to November

Larvae have been found in rotting wood.

Widespread in England and Wales.

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.