This long-legged fly is one that you want to see in your garden.  But with a body length of only 3 to 5mm you need to look carefully to see this tiny, iridescent creature.


It spends its day feeding on  pests suchs as thrips, aphids, spider mites and fruit flies.


There are over 130 types of long-legged fly in New Zealand.

The one shown below is austrosciapus connexus introduced from Australia to help fight pests.