WALKING TALL

Words: Chris Stafford

Common name: Green long-legged fly Scientific name: Austrosciapus connexus Among the vast order of insects loosely known as flies — estimated at around a million species — the green long-legged fly stands head and feelers above the rest even though it’s just 6mm long. It’s one of the commonest flies on Australia’s east coast and its bejewelled metallic-green abdomen and transparent wings with black C-shaped markings make it easy to spot in parks and wetlands where it often perches in the open on flat green leaves. While its larvae are scavengers, lurking in damp soils or under decomposing tree bark where they prey on the larvae of other insects, the long-limbed adult version is the gardener’s friend, feeding on smaller soft-bodied insects such as aphids. So full marks for that.…

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Good Organic Gardening (Digital) - 1 Issue, 15.1

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