Longlegged Flies

Condylostylus preying on Aleyrodidae

Longlegged flies of the family Dolichopodidae are true flies found worldwide in a variety of habitats. While their appearance varies, the adult flies generally have metallic colored bodies, long legs, and veined wings. Some larvae are predators while others mine plants, but all adults feed on small insects including whiteflies. Evidence of their existence dates back to the Cretaceous Period as many have been found in amber deposits.

An earlier post I wrote on Google+ briefly looks at the relationship between the longlegged fly genus Condylostylus and Aleyrodidae, also known as whiteflies.