any member of a family of unusual-looking flies (order Diptera) that have their eyes mounted on long stalks near the antennae. This arrangement, although advantageous to vision, is an aerodynamic handicap.

The adults of the one species in North America (Sphyracephala brevicornis) are sometimes found on skunk cabbage. In all species the larvae live and feed on wet organic matter in marsh or bog habitats. All other species are tropical.