A medium-sized to fairly large (body length to 20 mm) greyish robberfly with shifting dark markings on the tergites. The femora, tibiae and tarsi are partially reddish but the extent can vary. It is most likely to be confused with M. cingulatus but M. atricapillus males have a conspicuous projection with a concave apex arising from sternite 8 (unique among British robberflies) and females tend to have a pair of longish bristles on sternite 8 (which forms the underside of the ovipositor). Both sexes have a longer arista than M. cingulatus (at least two-thirds the length of the 3rd antennal segment). Female M. cingulatus also averages smaller, has a browner tone to the body and more conspicuous dark rings on the tibiae. Females of M. strandi , M. micans , M. pyragra are usually indistinguishable even with an individual in hand.
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