Xylophagidae

For the mollusc family, see Xylophagaidae.

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.

Xylophagidae
Coenomyia ferruginea
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Suborder:	Brachycera
Infraorder:	Xylophagomorpha
Superfamily:	Xylophagoidea
Family:	Xylophagidae Fallén, 1810
Subfamilies
Coenomyiinae Rachicerinae Xylophaginae

Coenomyia ferruginea

Dialysis elongata

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]

• Anacanthaspis Röder, 1889^[3]
• Arthropeas Loew, 1850^[4]
• Coenomyia Latreille, 1797^[5]
• Dialysis Walker in Saunders, 1850^[6]
• Exeretonevra Macquart, 1846^[7]
• Heterostomus Bigot, 1857^[8]
• Odontosabula Matsumura, 1905^[9]
• Rachicerus Walker, 1854^[10]
• Xylophagus Meigen, 1803^[11]