Genus Cephalops

178 species in 4 subgenera in the world

Many species are brightly coloured for pipunculids with spots of yellow on the abdomen. The following combination of characters allow lab identification of Cephalops specimens: hind margin of eye straight, ocellar bristles reduced (these characters place them within Pipunculinae); propleuron with a fan of setae (includes Collinias, Microcephalops, Pipunculus, Cephalosphaera and Cephalops), frons not swollen, face not narrowed, discal medial cell expanded medially (excludes Collinias and Microcephalops), setae on thorax restricted to two dorsocentral rows and scattered setae along margins (excludes Pipunculus) and Vein M2 absent (excludes Cephalosphaera).

[description by Jeff Skevington]

all biogeographical regions of the world

adults are usually seen hovering among vegetation in forest clearings and edges

adults feed on honeydew secretions

larvae of most species that have been reared are parasitoids of Delphacid Planthoppers

A single egg is injected into a nymph or adult planthopper, either while the bug is stationary or after the fly has picked up the bug and is in flight; the larva feeds internally and when mature, leaves the host through a break in one of the dorsal intersegmental membranes of the abdomen; pupation occurs in soil, leaf litter, at the base of plants, or rarely, attached to leaves.

page creation based on Jeff Skevington's identification of this image

live adult image by Steve Marshall, plus numbers, links to subgenera, description, hosts, references (Jeff Skevington, Tree of Life Project)

links to adult images of 3 species from Europe (Alan Hadley, UK)

pinned adult image of undetermined Cephalops species by Stephanie Boucher, plus brief overview of pipunculids (Canadian Biodiversity, McGill U., Quebec)

list of world species in subgenus Cephalops (Cephalops) (Jeff Skevington, Tree of Life Project)

tribe and subfamily classification (Jeff Skevington, Tree of Life Project)