The 178 valid species of Cephalops are distributed among 4 subgenera. Most of the species are in the nominate subgenus and in the subgenus Semicephalops. Twenty-four species are currently unplaced at the subgeneric level (listed as incertae sedis above). Most Cephalops species that have been reared are parasitoids of Delphacidae.

Cephalops are distinctive long-winged pipunculids, quickly recognizable in the field with some experience. Many of the 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).

Cephalops is perhaps the best-studied genus on a world scale. Keys are available for all but the Oriental Region. The best regional keys to use as starting points to identify Cephalops species are as follows: Australia – De Meyer and Grootaert (1992), Afrotropical – De Meyer (1992b), Costa Rica – Rafael and Menezes (1999), Hawaii – Hardy (1953), Japan – Morakote and Hirashima (1990), Nearctic - De Meyer (1989a), Neotropics – Rafael (1990), New Guinea – De Meyer (1990), New Zealand – De Meyer (1991), West-Palaearctic - De Meyer (1989b).

• Cephalops
  • Cephalops (Beckerias)
  • Cephalops (Cephalops)
  • Cephalops (Parabeckerias)
  • Cephalops (Semicephalops)
  • Cephalops artifrons
  • Cephalops buclavus
  • Cephalops chandiensis
  • Cephalops crassispinus
  • Cephalops excellens
  • Cephalops flavocinctus
  • Cephalops gansuensis
  • Cephalops gracilentus
  • Cephalops hirtifemurus
  • Cephalops incohatus
  • Cephalops kashmerensis
  • Cephalops kumaonensis
  • Cephalops kumatai
  • Cephalops longicaudus
  • Cephalops longistigmatis
  • Cephalops mashobraensis
  • Cephalops metallicus
  • Cephalops nigronitens
  • Cephalops orbiculatus
  • Cephalops seminitidus
  • Cephalops shanghaiensis
  • Cephalops shisanlingensis
  • Cephalops splendens
  • Cephalops yoshiyasui

There are two papers on the phylogenetics of Cephalops and related taxa. De Meyer (1994) provides a phylogenetic analysis for the Cephalopsini and De Meyer (1993, 1996) provides insights into the Hawaiian pipunculid fauna. All 36 species of Hawaiian pipunculids belong to a single lineage of Cephalops (Semicephalops). The latter paper examines the diversification of this lineage.

Collection Sites: world map showing specimen collection locations for Cephalops

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) Stats
                                                             

Specimen Records:	528
Specimens with Sequences:	256
Specimens with Barcodes:	223
Public Records:	0
Species:	23
Species With Barcodes:	20

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Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Species: 1
Species With Barcodes: 1

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Species: 1
Species With Barcodes: 1

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Species: 1
Species With Barcodes: 1