Conopidae, commonly known as thick-headed flies, is a family of acalyptrate ⓘ Diptera comprising several hundred species worldwide, most diverse in warm temperate and tropical regions. Adults are medium-sized flies with a characteristically bulbous head, large eyes, and short antennae. Many species show striking wasp-like mimicry, with elongated abdomens, narrow waists, and bold black, yellow, or reddish markings.
Conopidae
Conops is the type genus of the family Conopidae and includes a group of medium-sized flies commonly referred to as thick-headed flies. Species of Conops are characterised by a strongly swollen head, large compound eyes, and an elongate abdomen often narrowed at the base, giving many species a pronounced wasp-like appearance. Colour patterns are typically bold, with combinations of black, yellow, orange, or reddish markings that enhance their mimicry of aculeate Hymenoptera.
Myopa is a distinctive genus within the family Conopidae, comprising medium-sized thick-headed flies that are particularly characteristic of temperate regions of the Palearctic. Adults are readily recognised by their large, rounded head, strongly developed mouthparts, and a stout, often slightly arched abdomen. Many species are dark-bodied, sometimes with reddish or brownish tones, and show less obvious wasp mimicry than genera such as Conops.
Sicus is a small but distinctive genus within the family Conopidae, represented in Europe primarily by the species Sicus ferrugineus. Flies of this genus are medium-sized and immediately recognisable by their uniform reddish-brown to chestnut coloration, which sets them apart from the more boldly patterned conopids. The head is large and rounded, typical of thick-headed flies, and the abdomen is elongate and slightly constricted at the base.
