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.
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
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no:Xylophagomorpha