Grey S-veined Snail-killer. - Elgiva cucularia

One of two British Elgiva species, which are medium-sized, slimly-built sciomyzids with a strongly curved posterior cross vein and wings bearing several spots and smudges (notably a spot on each cross vein plus the end of vein R2+3).

Elgiva cucularia is easily distinguished from Elgiva solicita by its grey thorax and the presence of a strong bristle on the mesopleuron. It also averages smaller than Elgiva solicita.

It likes swampy wetlands of various sorts, including lake and pool margins, ditches, dune slacks and will even use slightly brackish coastal marsh.

Adults can be recorded from April to September and occasionally during winter.

The larvae attack aquatic pulmonate snails.

E. cucularia is widespread and locally common in southern Britain becoming scarcer in northern England and Scotland.

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.