Ptychoptera contaminata is about 9 mm long and the females are noticeably larger than the males.
They have a glossy black body with yellow or orange spots.
On the wings we see a number of black spots, the largest of which is in the middle of the wing.

Ptychoptera contaminata is mainly found in the vicinity of shallow still or slow flowing water.
It is a common species in both the Netherlands and Europe, although it is absent in Spain and Portugal and in much of the Balkans.

1st photo: Oostvaardersplassen, The Netherlands, 4 August 2011
2nd, 3rd & 4th photo: A male. ​Nieuwe Keverdijkse Polder, Weesp, The Netherlands, 15 June 2021