The
Brachyceran 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
larvae are often predatory, consuming other insect larvae living in rotting wood.[1]
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.[1]
Genera
These nine genera belong to the family Xylophagidae:[2]
^
abWatson, L. and Dallwitz, M.J. 2003 onwards.
Xylophagidae.Archived June 2, 2007, at the
Wayback Machine British Insects: The Families of Diptera. Version 1 January 2012.
^Woodley, N.E. (2011). "A World Catalog of the Xylophagidae (Insecta: Diptera)". Myia. 12: 455–500.
^Walker, F. (1850). Diptera. Part I, pp. 1-76, pls. 1-2. In [Saunders, W. W. (ed.)], Insecta Saundersiana: or characters of undescribed insects in the collection of William Wilson Saunders, Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S., &c. Vol. 1. London: Van Voorst. p. 474.
^Matsumura, S. (1905). Thousand insects of Japan. Tokyo: Keisei-sha. pp. 163 pp., pls 18-34.
^Walker, F. (1854). List of the specimens of dipterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part V. [=Supplement I]. London: British Museum. pp. 1–330.
^Meigen, J. W. (1803). "Versuch einer neuen Gattungs-Eintheilung der europaischen zweiflugligen Insekten". Mag. Insektenkd. 2: 259–281.