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Xylophagidae

Xylophagidae
Stinkfliege Coenomyia ferruginea male.jpg
Coenomyia ferruginea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Suborder: Brachycera
Infraorder: Xylophagomorpha
Superfamily: Xylophagoidea
Family: Xylophagidae
Subfamilies

Coenomyiinae
Rachicerinae
Xylophaginae


Coenomyiinae
Rachicerinae
Xylophaginae

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.

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.

Coenomyia ferruginea mating

Coenomyia ferruginea

Museum specimen of Coenomyia ferruginea

Rachicerus obscuripennis being eaten by a robber fly

Xylophagus ater oviposting


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Wikipedia

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