[1] This species is native to the Palearctic realm, present in most of Europe eastwards to western Siberia, in the Near East, and in North Africa.

Like most Cheilosia this large species is blackish, and because of this colour it may often be overlooked as a hoverfly.

Antennae are black or dark brown and hairs of arista are longer than diameter of basal part.

Adult hoverflies can be found from April to September in two generations per year, as this species is bivoltine.

They visit flowers of white umbellifers, Aegopodium podagraria, Alliaria petiolata, Anthriscus sylvestris, Apiaceae, Aurinia saxatilis, Conium maculatum, Crataegus laevigata, Euphorbia cyparissias, Meum athamanticum, Potentilla reptans, Ranunculus repens, Salix spec., Sambucus nigra, Caltha, Cirsium, Galium, Scrophularia, Sorbus aucuparia.