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I guess they kill even slower prey. tabanid larvae inject enzymes in their soft-bodied preys through canals in their mandibels and the prey quickly becomes immobile. However, some species can switch from detritophagous to predatory. When predatory, tabanids prefer soft animals but in captivity they can be fed with crustaceans. It is not sure if they suck the bodyfluids through the same canals or that the actual 'mouth' is somewhere else.