DESCRIPTION: Length up to 8mm.  A soldier beetle with an orange body, a partially black head and a dark diffuse mark (often 'M' shaped) on the pronotum. Wing-cases dusky to red or yellow-brown. The legs are similarly variable, from all red to largely suffused with black, but the mid and hind femurs always seem to be darkest in the middle or at the base, never red at the base with black tips.  BEHAVIOUR: Adults are seen on Thistles and Umbellifers and are easily caught by sweeping. DISTRIBUTION: Widespread over fairly frequent over the UK.HABITAT: Rushy pasture, open damp woodland and waterside vegetation. PERIOD: May to end of July.