Pipunculidae is a family of flies (Diptera) commonly termed big-headed flies, 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. In all pipunculids there are only two larval stages. Some species are used as biological control agents in rice fields.

<!--==Literature== General Identification # Evolution Molecular analysis show that Pipunculidae appeared in the [Maastrichtian](https://bliptext.com/articles/maastrichtian) age of the [Cretaceous](https://bliptext.com/articles/cretaceous). The oldest [fossils](https://bliptext.com/articles/fossil) of this group were found in the [Eocene](https://bliptext.com/articles/eocene) formations. North American [Metanephrocerus belgardeae](https://bliptext.com/articles/metanephrocerus) and [Priabona florissantius](https://bliptext.com/articles/priabona-florissantius) were collected from the [Ypresian](https://bliptext.com/articles/ypresian) and [Priabonian](https://bliptext.com/articles/priabonian) deposits, respectively. Younger specimens of Pipunculidae were discovered in the [Miocene](https://bliptext.com/articles/miocene) [Dominican amber](https://bliptext.com/articles/dominican-amber). # Taxonomy Taxonomy as shown at the [Tree of life](https://bliptext.com/articles/tree-of-life-web-project), with modification based on Kehlmaier, Dierick and Skevington (2014). The name Pipunculidae is derived from the type genus [Pipunculus](https://bliptext.com/articles/pipunculus) which is thought to be derived from Latin pepo for pumpkin, thus pipunculus would mean "little pumpkin", referring to the large heads. Subfamily [Chalarinae](https://bliptext.com/articles/chalarinae) Subfamily [Nephrocerinae](https://bliptext.com/articles/nephrocerinae) Subfamily [Protonephrocerinae](https://bliptext.com/articles/protonephrocerinae) Subfamily [Pipunculinae](https://bliptext.com/articles/pipunculinae) # Gallery