Family: Athericidae

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Ecdysozoa > Panarthropoda > Tritocerebra > Phylum: Arthopoda > Mandibulata > Atelocerata > Panhexapoda > Hexapoda > Insecta (insects) > Dicondyla > Pterygota > Metapterygota > Neoptera > Eumetabola > Holometabola > Panorpida > Antliophora > Diptera (flies) > Brachycera > Tabanomorpha

Athericids clustered with eggs on side of rock in stream at Kirstenbosch, Cape Town. [photo Hamish Robertson]

Adults of some species are blood feeders. Larvae live in water and are predaceous. Eleven species have been recorded from South Africa (SA Animal Checklist)