This species is present in the Palaearctic realm, from Fennoscandia south to Turkey and from the Atlantic seaboard across Eurasia to as far as Mongolia.

In fact the anterior yellow-brown thoracic band of hairs is much narrower in the male than in the female.

[1] These flies closely mimic certain Bombus species (bumblebees) (Apidae family).

M. mystacea is the only bumble-bee mimic among the Mesembrina species present in western Europe.

[1] This species belongs to insects with complete metamorphosis which involves a pupal stage.