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Therevidae is a family of flies in the order Diptera, known as stiletto flies due to their long, slender bodies and needle-like proboscis. They are a diverse family with over 2,000 described species found worldwide in various habitats. Stiletto flies are small to medium-sized insects, typically brown, black, or gray, and have patterned wings. They are predatory insects, using their proboscis to pierce and feed on other insects, such as flies and caterpillars. Therevidae larvae inhabit soil or decaying organic matter, where they feed on small invertebrates, contributing to nutrient cycling in ecosystems. These flies play a significant role in controlling insect populations and serve as bioindicators of ecosystem health. Therevidae is divided into subfamilies with numerous genera and species, and they are found on every continent except Antarctica. They are of interest to entomologists and ecologists studying insect interactions and biodiversity.