The Milichiidae (Diptera, Schizophora) are small, mostly black acalyptrate flies.
The family contains about 240 described species in 19 genera and is worldwide in distribution.
The behavior of several species of Milichiidae is very specialized.
For example, in some species the adults are myrmecophilous (= ant-loving),
whilst in some others they are kleptoparasitic,
feeding on the prey of spiders or predaceous insects.
The habitats of Milichiidae are diverse.
Adults can be collected in open landscapes, such as steppes or meadows,
in wadis, at the edges of forests, inside forests, in the forest canopy,
in stables or houses, or even in caves.
However, they do not seem to be attracted to coastal habitats or to other places near water.
The Milichiidae are divided into three subfamilies,
Madizinae, Milichiinae, and Phyllomyzinae.
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