common red-legged robberfly

Dioctria rufipes can reach a body length of about 8–15 mm (0.31–0.59 in) and a wings length of 7.5–9 mm (0.30–0.35 in). These medium-large robber flies have a black head and hard piercing mouthparts. The antennal tubercle is well-developed above the eyes. The mesothorax is black, lightly pubescent, with inconspicuous longitudinal stripes. The abdomen is slender, dorsally wider towards the back. The front legs are completely orange-red, whereas the hind legs are mainly black. They show a complete stripe of pale, short and soft pubescence (tomentum) on the sides of the thorax (pleura), with an additional ventral stripe above middle coxa.

This species can be found in most of Europe (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, the Netherlands, the former Yugoslavia, Germany, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Hungary, Great Britain, and Italy), in the Near East, and in the eastern Palearctic realm.