Code QD229999

The Athericidae until recently were considered to be part of the large family Rhagionidae. The athericids together with the tabanids and pelecorhynchids are families that include fully aquatic larvae. The head of athericid larvae is small and retractile into the anterior thorax (like a tabanid, rather than stratiomyiid).

Athericid larvae have a single posterior spiracle, unconcealed on the abdominal segment 8, unlike the tabanids (and stratiomyiids) in which paired spiracles are close together and hidden. Paired prolegs are present on abdominal segments 1-7, and there is a single median proleg on the terminal abdominal segment 8. Each proleg has a subapical and apical ring of claws. The body is somewhat dorsoventrally flattened. Lateral tubercles on the body distinguish from the otherwise quite similar Empididae. Since some Empididae have prolegs on all 8 abdominal segments, this difference may be significant.

European species of athericids have an unusual mode of egg- laying: the eggs are laid on a branch above the stream, mixed with the bodies of the deceased parents: after hatching the larvae drop into the stream below. Larvae are more frequent in riffle sections and in gravel, where they are predatory on chironomids and mayflies. Pupation is riparian/terrestrial.

The Athericidae are little known in Australia.