Sciapodinae is a subfamily of flies in the family Dolichopodidae. Members of the subfamily possess several ancestral characteristics of the family, such as branched vein M₁₊₂ in the wings (though M₂ is absent or reduced in Mesorhagini) and a pedunculate hypopygium. Their heads also typically have a deeply excavated vertex (top of the head), giving them the appearance of a dumbbell when viewed from the front.

Members of Sciapodinae are most diverse in South America, sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian subcontinent, South-east Asia and Australasia. The subfamily is suggested to have originated during the Early Cretaceous on the supercontinent Gondwana, which is supported by vicariant distributions in the genera Heteropsilopus, Condylostylus and Parentia.

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