There are 18 valid, extant species of Nephrocerus (plus one extinct species). These large, attractive, rarely collected flies are very different in appearance from all other pipunculids, and speculation has always revolved around what their potential hosts might be. A recent discovery by Koenig and Young (2005) has finally answered this question. They discovered parasitic larvae in crane fly (Tipulidae) adults and successfully reared Nephrocerus atrapilus from these hosts. Diptera larvae discovered in crane fly adults are likely to be Nephrocerus and should be reared. It is likely that all Nephrocerus species use large species in this family for their hosts.

These are very distinctive yellow and black flies. The hind margin of the eye is deeply excised medially, the wing has no pterostigma, and the flagellum is kidney shaped. In general appearance they resemble syrphids more than other pipunculids. Check for a spurious vein (present in all similar looking syrphids) if in doubt about family placement.

There are only two regional keys available to identify specimens in this genus: Grootaert & De Meyer (1986) treat the western European species and Skevington (2005) covers the New World species. With the recent description of species from different parts of the Palaearctic, a revision of the species in this region is badly needed.

Collection Sites: world map showing specimen collection locations for Nephrocerus

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) Stats
                                                             

Specimen Records:	17
Specimens with Sequences:	16
Specimens with Barcodes:	15
Public Records:	14
Species:	7
Species With Barcodes:	7

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