Brachystomatinae Ceratomerinae Clinocerinae Empidinae Hemerodromiinae Trichopezinae Empididae is a family of flies with over 3,000 described species occurring worldwide in all the biogeographic realms but the majority are found in the Holarctic.

They are mainly predatory flies like most of their relatives in the Empidoidea, and exhibit a wide range of forms but are generally small to medium-sized, non-metallic and rather bristly.

The point of origin of Rs (radial sector) is at a distance from the humeral crossvein (h) equal to or longer than the length of h. Except for a few species, Empididae is easily distinguishable from the families Ragadidae and Atelestidae by having a prosternum that is fused with the proepisternum, which forms a precoxal bridge.

[2] The larvae have a very slim and reduced head capsule (hemicephalic) which is often retracted into the thorax and an eight-segmented abdomen[3] with paired prolegs, distally bearing hooks,[4] on abdominal segments 1–7 or 1–8.

Some Empididae, such as the European species Hilara maura, have an elaborate courtship ritual in which the male wraps a prey item in silk and presents it to the female to stimulate copulation.

In some species, such as the North American species Rhamphomyia longicuada, competition for the food provided by males is so strong that females have developed elaborate ornaments, including feathery "pennate" scales on their legs, darkened wings, and inflatable abdominal sacs that enhance their attractiveness.

Some rearrangements, in particular regarding the delimitation of Empididae versus Dolichopodidae – which together represent the bulk and the most advanced lineages of the Empidoidea – are likely to take place in the future.

The Brachystomatinae, Empidinae and Hemerodromiinae however seem to be natural groups of closest relatives in their entirety, and the Clinocerinae apparently are for the largest part.

Atelestinae Nemedininae Bicellariinae Hybotinae Oedaleinae Ocydromiinae Trichininae Tachydromiini Symballaphthalmini Drapetini Dolichopodidae Iteaphilinae Ragadinae Clinocerinae Brachystomatini Ceratomerini Trichopezini Chelipodini Empidini Hemerodromiini Hilarini