Stiletto-flies
Guides
Acrosathe
Acrosathe is a genus of stiletto flies (family Therevidae) comprising more than 20 described species. The genus was established by Irwin and Lyneborg in 1981 and belongs to the subfamily Therevinae. Six species are documented from the Nearctic Region, including the type species and one newly described species (A. falcata). Species-level taxonomy has been revised with morphological descriptions, genitalia illustrations, and distribution mapping.
Ammonaios
Ammonaios is a genus of stiletto flies (Diptera: Therevidae) described by Irwin and Lyneborg in 1981. The genus belongs to a family of predatory flies whose larvae develop in soil or sand and feed on other invertebrates. As a relatively small and poorly documented genus, its species-level taxonomy and biology remain incompletely known. The genus is part of the diverse therevid fauna found in various regions including parts of the Old World.
Asiloidea
asiloid flies
Asiloidea is a large superfamily of true flies (Diptera: Brachycera) with cosmopolitan distribution. It comprises approximately 11 families including the well-known Asilidae (robber/assassin flies), Bombyliidae (bee flies), Therevidae (stiletto flies), Mydidae (mydas flies), and Scenopinidae (window flies). Adult morphology is characterized by antennae with no more than 4 flagellomeres, leg empodium usually setiform or absent, and wing venation featuring an elongate cell cup with vein CuA2 ending freely or meeting A1 near the wing margin. Larval synapomorphies include posterior spiracles arising dorsally from the penultimate abdominal segment and, in most families except Bombyliidae and Hilarimorphidae, a modified cranium forming a hinged metacephalic rod.
DipteraBrachyceraAsiloidearobber-fliesbee-fliesstiletto-fliesmydas-flieswindow-fliescosmopolitanarid-habitatspredatory-larvaeflower-visitorsparasitoidsbiological-controlAsilidaeBombyliidaeTherevidaeMydidaeScenopinidaeApioceridaeApsilocephalidaeApystomyiidaeEvocoidaeHilarimorphidaeMythicomyiidaeProtapioceridaephylogenysystematicsvenomouspredatorymystaxmetacephalic-roddichopticholopticJurassicCretaceoustherevoid-cladeNamib-DesertCanary-IslandsSaudi-ArabiaDominicaChileGermanyfossilcybertaxonomyopen-accessZooKeysBohart-MuseumWorld-Robber-Fly-DayChromolepida
stiletto flies
Chromolepida is a genus of stiletto flies (family Therevidae) established by Cole in 1923. The genus contains five described species distributed in North America, with most species described from Mexico and the southwestern United States. Stiletto flies in this genus share the family characteristics of slender bodies and elongated mouthparts adapted for predatory feeding. The genus name refers to coloration of the scales or body covering.
Cyclotelus
Cyclotelus is a genus of stiletto flies in the family Therevidae, established by Francis Walker in 1850. The genus contains more than 20 described species, with 29 species currently recognized. Stiletto flies in this genus share the characteristic elongated, slender body form typical of the family. The genus is part of the diverse asilomorphan radiation of predatory flies.
Henicomyia
Henicomyia is a genus of stiletto flies (family Therevidae) established by Coquillett in 1898. The genus contains approximately seven described species, most described by Lyneborg in 1972. Species occur in the Neotropical region, with records from South America. The genus is classified in the subfamily Xestomyzinae.
Lysilinga
Lysilinga is a genus of stiletto flies (Diptera: Therevidae: Therevinae) comprising 10 species distributed in North and Central America. The genus was established by Irwin and Lyneborg in 1981 and revised by Webb in 2006, who described seven new species and resolved two synonymies. Species are distinguished primarily by male and female genitalia morphology.
Ozodiceromyia
stiletto flies
Ozodiceromyia is a genus of stiletto flies (family Therevidae) comprising approximately seven described species distributed across North America, Central America, and northern South America. The genus was established by Bigot in 1890 and belongs to the cycloteline subfamily of Therevidae. Species in this genus are part of the diverse assemblage of predatory flies within the stiletto fly family, though specific ecological details for most species remain poorly documented.
Palaeopherocera
Palaeopherocera is a genus of stiletto flies (family Therevidae) described in 2005. The genus name suggests an ancient or primitive relationship to the genus Pherocera, a related therevid genus. As a member of Therevidae, it belongs to a family of predatory flies known for their distinctive larval biology and adult morphology. The genus is relatively recently described and appears to be poorly represented in collections.
Pherocera
Pherocera is a genus of stiletto flies in the family Therevidae, established by Cole in 1923. The genus contains approximately 12 described species. Stiletto flies (Therevidae) are predatory flies known for their distinctive elongated mouthparts and agile flight. Members of this genus are placed in the subfamily Phycusinae.
Schlingeria
Schlingeria is a genus of stiletto flies (family Therevidae) established by Irwin in 1977. It belongs to the subfamily Phycusinae, a group characterized by specialized morphological features including reduced wing venation and particular arrangements of thoracic bristles. The genus is poorly known, with only two observations recorded on iNaturalist and minimal published biological data available. Schlingeria species are presumably predatory as larvae, as is characteristic of the family Therevidae, though direct observations of life history remain undocumented.
Tabuda
Tabuda is a genus of stiletto flies (family Therevidae) established by Francis Walker in 1852. The genus contains approximately seven described species distributed primarily in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. Species in this genus are characterized by their slender body form and distinctive wing venation patterns typical of the Therevinae subfamily. The genus has been subject to taxonomic revision, with related genera such as Tabudamima and Incoxoverpa described to accommodate species formerly or potentially confused with Tabuda.
Tabudamima
Tabudamima is a genus of stiletto flies (family Therevidae, order Diptera) established by Irwin & Lyneborg in 1981. The genus was revised by Webb & Irwin in 1999, who also described the related new genus Incoxoverpa. As a therevid genus, its species are likely predatory in the larval stage, though specific life history details remain poorly documented. The genus is distinguished from the related Tabuda by specific morphological features of the male genitalia and wing venation.
Therevinae
stiletto flies
Therevinae is the largest subfamily of stiletto flies (family Therevidae), comprising more than 20 genera and over 470 described species. These flies are characterized by their distinctive elongated, slender bodies and are found across diverse geographic regions including the Nearctic, Neotropical, Palearctic, and Australasian regions. The subfamily exhibits considerable morphological diversity, with taxonomic revisions ongoing due to cryptic species complexes and the need for molecular characterization.