Cylindrical pronotum (lacks outwardly projecting basal corners and lateral constriction), differing from M. confusum by its barely convex to almost flat eyes, shorter groove on the front of the head, more obvious hairs dorsally with discernible vitae, and often shorter body size.

M. cylindricolle appears to be a widely distributed arid zone species.
Bellamy 1988 commented: "The collection of the majority of the type series in pitfall traps suggests a larval biology which utilizes the root crown or stem base of the host plant, with emergent adults flying very low to feeding and mating sites." This is corroborated by SA Museum specimens, with four collections from pitfall traps in different areas. There is also one collection from a vehicle net.

A Tepper collection from Ardrossan on Yorke Peninsula cited by Bellamy 1988 as a paratype of this species, and labelled by him accordingly, is actually M. intermedium (q.v.).