Flies of the family Conopidae are distributed worldwide in all the biogeographic realms except for the poles and many of the Pacific islands.

Sample genera: Conops, Dalmannia, Physocephala, Stylogaster, Myopa, and Physoconops.

Adult females aggressively intercept their hosts in flight to deposit eggs.

Accordingly, in the species Bombus terrestris, it has been shown that vulnerable foraging bees are likely the most susceptible to parasitism by conopids.

Certain members of the genus Physocephala have minor economic importance as parasites of honey bees.

Some members of this genus, such as Physocephala tibialis have been shown to induce certain bumblebees to bury themselves before they die, allowing the adult fly to emerge from their hosts underground.