Diptera

Dolichopodidae

Long-legged Flies

female Dolichopus plumipes - Cheshire, England - May 2009

About 5000 species of these small, usually metallic-coloured, flies have so far been described worldwide, 300 of which occur in the British Isles.

male Dolichopus plumipes - Cheshire, England - May 2009

Many males exhibit elaborate secondary sexual characteristics, such as the flattened tarsal plumes of D. plumipes (above and below).

male Dolichopus plumipes - Cheshire, England - May 2009

Most Dolichopodidae are predatory and can act as important control agents for a number of agricultural pests.

Lancashire, England - May 2009

Cheshire, England - May 2009

County Kerry, Republic of Ireland - July 2008

Argyra argyria - Cheshire, England - June 2008

The white spot at the end of its dark, smoky wings make Poecilobothros nobilitatus a distinctive species.

Poecilobothros nobilitatus - Cheshire, England - July 2009