External images For terms see Morphology of Diptera The wings are 7–10 mm long.

The face is entirely pale dusted; there is a shining black median stripe in rubbed specimens.

E. arbustorum resembles E. abusiva, but they are distinguished by the plumose arista, as well as a less projecting mouth-edge and shorter hairs overall.

[8] The larva is aquatic, occurring in shallow, nutrient rich standing water and in cow-dung, silage pits and compost heaps.

[10] In North America, the species was introduced near Toronto around 1885 and is now ubiquitous throughout much of the United States and Canada.