Key for the identification of British Brachystomatidae

This family was split from Empididae in 2006 by Sinclair & Cumming. The only feature separating them in entirity is internal - whether the ejaculatory apodeme is plate-like and narrowly fused to base of aedeagus (Brachystomatidea) or not fused to base of aedeagus (Empididae). The species are easiest dealt with in a key combined with Empididae