Philonthus marginatus

7 to 9.5mm. The reddish-yellow lateral margins to the pronotum make this beetle easy to identify. The remainder of the pronotum, head, and abdomen are shining black. The elytra are blackish with long overlapping hairs and the legs usually yellowish though sometimes darkened. The antennae are black with a yellow underside to the first segment as also found in P. cognatus.

• 7-9.5mm
• Body all black except for irregular yellow sides to the pronotum
• 1st and 2nd antennal segments yellow ventrally (as in P. cognatus), otherwise black
• Four rows of punctures on pronotum (including those on the hind margin)
• Pale, long pubescence on the elytra
• Legs yellow/pale brown

On damp soils in grassland or open woodland. Often on or around dung or other decaying matter.

Widespread and generally common.

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland. There were a total of 87 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015.