Long-legged Fly

Liancalus virens

Description

Body length 8mm. Quite a large Dolichopodid, with long legs and green metallic reflections on the thorax and eyes. The abdomen is light grey with black bands.

Habitat

Seepages under bridges, by waterfalls where the adults collect salts from the water. The larvae develop in the mosses and algae that grow in the water.

Status and distribution

Widely but thinly dispersed across Britain with a bias of records in Wales. The occurrence of this species in Nottinghamshire is not known as there seem to be no previous records. The species may well be overlooked. A small colony was found on seepages under the railway bridge.

Best time to see

All year.