[1] For terminology see Speight key to genera and glossary Archived 2023-01-22 at the Wayback Machine "Dasysyrphus laticaudus species information and images".

5–8.2 mm (0.20–0.32 in) The frons of both males and females is dark with a light pollenose band.

The scutum is bluish black, sometimes shiny or metallic, with pile that can range from all light to variable to all dark.

The scutellum is brownish yellowish, with darker lateral edges, and the pile on the female is mostly light with some dark.

The pile is not very dense and is mainly yellow, with black located behind the front femora.

The maculae on segments 3 and 4 are oblique, fairly straight and of uniform thickness, but they do not cross the abdominal margin.