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Broad Centurion

Broad Centurion ©Laurence Livermore

Broad centurion

The Broad centurion, or 'Green soldier fly', is one of our most common soldier flies, and is often found in gardens. It has hairy eyes and a metallic blue or bronze body. It is an important pollinator.

Scientific name

Chloromyia formosa

When to see

May to August

Species information

Statistics

Length: 1cm
Common.

About

Soldier flies are distinctive - they have very hairy eyes. There are almost 50 species of soldier fly in the UK, found in a wide variety of habitats. They are a colourful group of small to medium-sized flies, sometimes hairy, but never bristly. The Broad centurion, or 'Green soldier fly', is one of the most common and widespread of the soldier flies, and is often found in gardens. It breeds in damp, rotting vegetation, including compost heaps, and adults visit flowers to feed on nectar.

How to identify

The Broad centurion has large eyes and rounded, brown, translucent wings. The females have a metallic blue-green body, while the males are more bronzy-green.

Distribution

Widespread.

Did you know?

Soldier flies are named after the smart, bright colours and regular patterns they often display, giving the appearance of uniforms.