食蟲虻

食蟲虻（学名：）又稱盜虻，雙翅目短角亚目，分布於世界各地，大约有7100种。

生物特徵
所有的食虫虻都有粗壮，长着刺的腿，脸部有浓密的胡子状的鬃毛，两只大的复眼中间有3个单眼。鬃毛在遇到猎物时保护头部和脸部。触角短，分成3段，有些有猪鬃状的芒。

其喙短且强，用来刺破猎物并注入含有毒性和蛋白水解酶的唾液，使猎物从内部麻痹，通过长嘴吮吸液体。许多物种腹部长，逐渐变细，有些種具有如劍一般的產卵管；另一些腹部扁平，例如，外型類似於熊蜂。成年食虫虻攻击其他苍蝇、甲虫、蝴蝶、飞蛾、各种蜜蜂、蚂蚁、豆娘、黄蜂、蝗虫、一些蜘蛛。

下级分类
本科包括以下属：

圖像
File:Robber_fly_head.jpg|Head of a large Efferia aestuans
File:Efferia_aestuans.jpg|Female
Efferia aestuans
File:Robber Fly 1 REFON.JPG|Robber fly
File:Neoitamus cyanurus.jpg|Neoitamus cyanurus
File:Choerades fimbriata01.jpg |Choerades fimbriata
File:asilidae.jpg|Dasypogon diadema
File:RobberFly.JPG | Robber fly resting.
File:Asylidae 0005.JPG
File:Promachus_vertebratus.jpg|Promachus vertebratus
File:Efferia aestuans, Albuquerque.JPG|Efferia aestuans, Albuquerque, NM
File:Robberfly with damselfly prey.jpg|Damselfy Prey

參考書目
Geller-Grimm F (2003): Photographic atlas and identification key to the robber flies of Germany (Diptera: Asilidae)*, CD-ROM, Amphx-Verlag Halle (Saale). ISBN 3-932795-18-0
Hull FM (1962): Robber flies of the world., Bulletin of the United States National Museum* 224 (1, 2): 1-907; Washington.
Lavigne RJ (2003): Evolution of courtship behaviour among the Asilidae (Diptera), with a review of courtship and mating. Studia dipterologica* 9(2)(2002): 703-742
Musso JJ (1978): Recherches sur le développement, la nutrition et l'écologie des Asilidae (Diptera - Brachycera), Aix-Marseille: These université d'droit, d'èconomie et des sciences: 312 S.
Oldroyd H (1969): Tabanoidea and Asiloidea, Handb Ident British Insects* 9(4). London
Papavero N (1973): Studies of Asilidae (Diptera) systematics and evolution. I. A preliminary classification in subfamilies., Arquivos de Zoologia do Estado de São Paulo* 23: 217-274; São Paulo.
Wood GC (1981): Asilidae, In: McAlpine JF, Peterson BV, Shewell GE, Teskey HJ, Vockeroth JR, Wood DM,(Hrsg.): Manual of Nearctic Diptera*. Volume 1., Research Branch, Agriculture Canada, Monographs 27: : 549-573; Ottawa.

外部連結
*[http://www.geller-grimm.de/asilidae.htm Database service for Asilidae – Robber flies]
*[http://www.cirrusimage.com/Flies_robber.htm Robber flies of North America – reference photographs, descriptions, natural history]
*[http://bugguide.net/node/view/151 Family Asilidae at Bugguide.net]