Pipunculidae is a
family of
flies (Diptera) commonly termed big-headed flies,[1] a reference to the large (
holoptic) eyes, which cover nearly the entire head. The family is found worldwide and more than 1300
species have been described.
The
larvae of Pipunculidae develop as
parasitoids almost exclusively in
Auchenorrhyncha, the exception being the genus
Nephrocerus, whose hosts are adult
Tipulidae (crane flies). The larvae develop rapidly within the crane flies before pupating in the soil.[2] In all pipunculids there are only two larval stages. Some species are used as
biological control agents in
rice fields.
Taxonomy as shown at the
Tree of life,[4] with modification based on Kehlmaier, Dierick and Skevington (2014).[5] The name Pipunculidae is derived from the type genus Pipunculus which is thought to be derived from Latin pepo for pumpkin, thus pipunculus would mean "little pumpkin", referring to the large heads.[6]
^Coe, R.L. (1966).
Pipunculidae(PDF). Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects. Vol. 10. p. 83. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
^Koenig, D.P. & C.W. Young. (January 2007). "First observation of parasitic relations between bigheaded flies of the genus Nephrocerus (Diptera: Pipunculidae) and crane flies of the genus Tipula (Diptera: Tupulidae: Tipulinae), with larval and puparial descriptions of Nephrocerus atrapilus Skevington". Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 109 (1). Washington DC: Allen Press/The Entomological Society of Washington: 52–65.
ISSN0013-8797.
^
abArchibald, SB; Kehlmaier, C; Mathewes, RW (2014). "Early Eocene big headed flies (Diptera: Pipunculidae) from the Okanagan Highlands, western North America". The Canadian Entomologist. 146 (4): 429–443.
doi:
10.4039/tce.2013.79.
^Enderlein, G. (1936). 22. Ordnung: Zweiflugler, Diptera. Abt. 16, pp. 1-259 [= lfg. 2, in part]. In Brohmer, P., Ehrmann, P. & Ulmer, G. (eds.), Die Tierwelt Mitteleuropas. Vol. 6. Insekten. III. Teil., . Leipzig: Quelle & Meyer.
^
abcAczél, M.L. (1940). "Vorarbeiten zu einer Monographie der Dorylaiden (Diptera). Dorylaiden-Studien V". Zoologischer Anzeiger. 132: 149–169.
^Rafael, J.A. . (1987). "Two new genera of Pipunculidae (Diptera) from the New World: Metadorylas, gen. n. and Elmohardyia gen. n., with synonyms, designation of lectotypes and revalidation of a species". Revista Brasileira de Entomologia. 31: 35–39.
^Latreille, P.A. (1802). Histoire naturelle, generale et particuliere, des crustaces et des insectes. Tome troisieme. Paris: Dufart. pp. xii + 13–467 + 1 pp.