VERMILEONIDAE

The Brachyceran family 'Vermileonidae' (the sole member of the infraorder 'Vermileonomorpha') is a small family of uncertain affinities and unusual biology, containing fewer than 80 rare species in 10 genera. The larvae of vermileonids are called 'wormlions' and have evolved the same elaborate feeding behavior as is seen in the Neuropteran family Myrmeleontidae, or the "ant-lions"; that is, they make cone-shaped "pits" in sandy areas and feed on insects that fall into the pits. They are, like ant-lions, primarily found in desert or other sandy habitats, and are voracious predators. The adults are small, slender, and fragile flies, vaguely reminiscent of small crane flies.

Contents

Classification

Species Lists

References

External links

Classification

The infraorder Vermileonomorpha is often included within the Tabanomorpha, though the most recent classifications place them as its sister taxon.

Species Lists

★ Palaearctic

References

★ Nagatomi, A. 1997. Family Vermileonidae. I: Papp, L. og Darvas, B. (red.): ''Contributions to a Manual of Palaearctic Diptera''. 2: 447-458. Science Herald, Budapest.

External links

★ Picture from Diptera.info