Awl-fly
Guides
Dialysis elongata
Dialysis elongata is a species of fly in the family Xylophagidae, a small group of predatory flies sometimes known as awl-flies. The species was first described by Thomas Say in 1823, originally placed in the genus Stygia. It occurs in northeastern North America, with records from the United States and Canada. Xylophagidae flies are generally associated with woodland habitats and are predatory as larvae.
Rachicerus fulvicollis
Rachicerus fulvicollis is a species of fly in the family Xylophagidae, a small group of brachyceran flies commonly known as awl-flies. The species is found in the United States. Members of Xylophagidae are generally associated with wooded habitats and are predatory as larvae.
Rachicerus nitidus
Rachicerus nitidus is a species of fly in the family Xylophagidae, a group of medium-sized flies sometimes referred to as awl-flies. The species was described by Johnson in 1903. Members of the genus Rachicerus are characterized by their elongated, slender bodies and distinctive wing venation. The family Xylophagidae is a small, relictual group of brachyceran flies with limited species diversity in North America.
Xylophagus cinctus
Red-belted Awl-fly
Xylophagus cinctus is a species of awl-fly in the family Xylophagidae, commonly known as the Red-belted Awl-fly. Its larvae are freeze-tolerant and inhabit wood, where they have been observed to maintain transmembrane ion distribution during freezing—a physiological adaptation that allows survival in cold environments. The species has a broad distribution across the Northern Hemisphere.