Family Xylophagidae

Xylophagidae Fallén 1810

28 spp. in 6 genera in our area(1), ~150 spp. in 15 genera total(2)

2-25 mm(1)

Slender-bodied without prominent hair. Usually black, but sometimes marked with yellow, or nearly all yellow (1). Facial orbits and cheeks not sutured (3). Calypters (lobes on base of wing along trailing edge) small or absent. Third antennal segment is elongated, execept in Rachicerus, where the antennae appear to have many segments. M3 cell of wing (see references) open(4).

Wing venation:

much of the world (none in the Afrotropical Region)(5); mostly northern NA(1)

Typically woodlands; larvae on decaying vegetation, under bark, or in decaying wood(1)

Adults sometimes take nectar and other fluids(1)

Larvae scavengers or predators(1). Xylophagus larvae may prey on bark beetle larvae