José Albertino Rafael

Pipunculidae (Diptera) of Latin America and the Caribbean:: a Catalog of Species with Notes on Biology and Pipunculid-host Associations José Albertino Rafael

Pipunculids, also known as ?big-headed flies,? are among the major families of Diptera exclusively parasitoids with 1,405 species described worldwide. Is widely distributed in Latin America, occurring from northern Mexico to the Tierra del Fuego Island of Chile. Pipunculidae is found in a variety of environments including deserts, Andean valleys, forests, meadows, and on small, remote islands. The present catalogue is the first study that provides detailed information on the distribution and biology of all pipunculid species recorded to date in Latin America (south of the USA) and in the Caribbean, including new pipunculid-host associations for the Region. We hope that this contribution becomes an important tool for carrying out further research on the Pipunculidae and for conserving this important group of flies.