They bear a superficial resemblance to Asilidae but are distinguished by the long clubbed antennae and wing venation. Within the regions covered here, the family occurs throughout Australia, including Tasmania. Adult mydids occupy a wide variety of habitats and can be locally common, especially in open country. At least 2 species are known to occur in rainforests. A number of authors have discussed the possibility that adult mydids prey upon other insects.
Females dig into the soil with the tip of the abdomen to lay eggs.
The larvae and pupae of mydids from other regions are similar to those of the Asilidae. This page last revised 6 October 1996 .