Overview
In Australia the family is represented only by the genus
Pelecorhynchus
. These flies were originally placed in Tabanidae, and are closely related to them. There are 31 described Australian species.
Adults have been taken on
Leptospermum
flowers, or hovering in the air, in the mountains during the summer; a few species appear in coastal districts in the spring. Larvae have been collected in the damp margins of swampy areas, where they feed on earthworms and possibly other soft-bodied animals (Mackerras & Fuller 1942). They move to drier levels to pupate.
Description
The species are of robust build, 10-20 mm long, usually ornate, with the antennal flagellum 8-segmented. The wings may be boldly patterned in orange or brown. The females have 2-segmented cerci and reduced mandibles. Adults do not suck blood; they may be distinguished from Tabanidae by their slightly sinuate (curved) anal vein. The larvae and pupae are similar to Tabanidae (Mackerras & Fuller 1942).
Distribution
The species are confined to cool temperate parts of southern Chile and eastern and south-western Australia (Daniels 1977). There is an undescribed species in the ANIC from the Atherton Tableland, North Queensland.