DESCRIPTION: Length 5–6,5 mm. A soldier-fly with pale marks at the sides of the thorax just in front of the wing bases.  Tergite 3 of the males typically has a central black mark interrupting the whitish band and the frons has pale spots which do not reach the antennae.  Females have paired triangular spots of the frons smaller and more pointed than the near relative N. uliginosus. BEHAVIOUR: The larvae develop in brackish pools. Adults like to visit flowers such as thistles, sea aster, ragworts and various umbellifers. DISTRIBUTION: Found mainly around the edge of southern Britain with scattered records inland and further North. HABITAT: Coastal areas particular saltmarshes, brackish ditches, damp grassland and land near the sea that has been grazed. PERIOD: July and August.