asilidæ

pl. [ASILUS.] Entom. A family of insects belonging to the order Diptera, and the tribe Brachycera. They are generally called Hornet-flies. They are fierce and voracious, mostly feeding on other insects, which they catch on the wing. In flying they make a humming noise. ǎs'-il-ŭs, s . [Lat. asilus = a gadfly, a horsefly.] A genus of two-winged flies (Diptera), the typical one of the family Asilidæ.