Asiloidea

Taxobox
name = Asiloidea


image_width = 240px
image_caption = Robber fly (Asilidae)
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
subphylum = Hexapoda
classis = Insecta
subclassis = Pterygota
infraclassis = Neoptera
superordo = Endopterygota|
ordo = Diptera
subordo = Brachycera
infraordo = Asilomorpha (but see text)
superfamilia = Asiloidea
superfamilia_authority =
subdivision_ranks = Families
subdivision = 11, see text

Asiloidea is a very large cosmopolitan superfamily of Diptera. The former infraorder Asilomorpha is paraphyletic and thus not a natural group; as its type taxon the Asiloidea would still belong there in any case, but current knowledge of brachyceran relationships would make it monotypic: the Cyclorrhapha appear to be the closest known relatives of the Asiloidea.

Though the ICZN does not regulate taxa higher than superfamilies, two approaches to deal with the problem are possible: either the Asilomorpha are abandoned, and the Asiloidea are treated as a member of the basal (i.e. non-Cyclorrhapha) radiation of Brachycera. On the other hand, it might be even more practical to synonymize the Asiloidea with the Asilomorpha and place the asiloid families in the infraorder directly, following the example of the Tabanomorpha.

Families

Living families of Asiloidea are:
* Apioceridae – flower-loving flies
* Apsilocephalidae
* Apystomyiidae
* Asilidae – robber flies
* Bombyliidae – bee flies
* Hilarimorphidae
* Mydidae – mydas flies
* Mythicomyiidae
* Evocoidae
* Scenopinidae – window flies
* Therevidae – stiletto flies

An extinct family from the Mesozoic are the Protapioceridae.