The

Brachycera The Brachycera are a suborder of the order Diptera. It is a major suborder consisting of around 120 families. Their most distinguishing characteristic is reduced antenna segmentation. Description A summary of the main physical characteristic ...

n infraorder Xylophagomorpha is a small group that consists solely of the family Xylophagidae, which presently contains subfamilies that were sometimes considered to be two small related families (Coenomyiidae and Rachiceridae). Other obsolete names for members of this family include Exeretonevridae and Heterostomidae. The family is known by the English name awl-flies. The

larva A larva (; : larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into their next life stage. Animals with indirect development such as insects, some arachnids, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase ...

e are often predatory, consuming other insect larvae living in rotting wood.

Description

Flies in this family have elongated bodies and resemble ichneumon wasps in shape. The base of the abdomen is constricted. The antennae have three segments.Watson, L. and Dallwitz, M.J. 2003 onwards
Xylophagidae.
British Insects: The Families of Diptera. Version 1 January 2012.

Genera

These nine genera belong to the family Xylophagidae: *'' Anacanthaspis'' Röder, 1889 *'' Arthropeas'' Loew, 1850 *'' Coenomyia'' Latreille, 1797 *'' Dialysis'' Walker in Saunders, 1850 *'' Exeretonevra'' Macquart, 1846 *'' Heterostomus'' Bigot, 1857 *'' Odontosabula'' Matsumura, 1905 *'' Rachicerus'' Walker, 1854 *'' Xylophagus'' Meigen, 1803

References

Gallery

Stinkfliege Coenomyia ferruginea.jpg, ''Coenomyia ferruginea'' mating Coenomyia ferrugineaPCSL02513B1.jpg, ''Coenomyia ferruginea'' Coenomyia ferruginea G9DC7705.jpg, Museum specimen of ''Coenomyia ferruginea'' Rachicerus obscuripennis.jpg, '' Rachicerus obscuripennis'' being eaten by a robber fly Xylophagus ater, oviposition - 2013-06-24.webm, ''Xylophagus ater'' oviposting Brachycera families Articles containing video clips Taxa named by Carl Fredrik Fallén {{Xylophagomorpha-stub no:Xylophagomorpha