Vermileonidae

Lampromyia sp.

The worm lions ( Vermileonidae ) are a family of two-winged flies (Diptera ) and the flies ( Brachycera ) assigned.

The flies of this family are long-legged and slender and are characterized by a solid trunk. In the figure they are very similar to snipe flies ( Rhagionidae ) to which they were numbered in the older literature.

The larvae of the worm lion build funnel-shaped pitfalls in the sand in which they live. As the antlion ( Myrmeleon ) then they sit at the bottom of this pit, waiting for prey. This consists of small insects that fall into the pit and be embraced by the larva to the front end. Through the secretion of saliva they are stunned and digested. The larva then sucks on the resolved chyme.

Significant differences in the behavior of the larvae of Myrmeleon are: