Awl-flies
Guides
Xylophagidae
awl-flies, stink flies
Xylophagidae is a small family of lower brachyceran flies comprising nine extant genera and approximately 135 species. Commonly known as awl-flies or stink flies, these insects are characterized by elongated bodies that resemble ichneumon wasps, with a constricted base of the abdomen and three-segmented antennae. The family occurs across all biogeographical regions except the Afrotropics. Larvae are primarily associated with rotting wood, where many species are predatory on other insect larvae.
Xylophagus decorus
Xylophagus decorus is a species of fly in the family Xylophagidae, first described by Williston in 1885. The family Xylophagidae comprises a small group of predatory flies commonly known as awl-flies, characterized by their elongated bodies and distinctive wing venation. Xylophagus decorus occurs in North America, with records from Canada and the United States.