Scathophagidae are a small family of flies commonly called dung, although not all species' larvae actually spend their development in dung. Many are plant feeders (leaf miners, stem-borers), aquatic predators or predators on insect larvae resident in rotting vegetable matter, seaweed or dung. The adults are predators of smaller insects, especially flies, but also eat flower pollen and nectar.

Worldwide, there are about 360 described species in 66 genera. The great majority are found in the Palearctic and Nearctic regions and the family is almost wholly confined to the northern hemisphere; only 5 species are known from the southern hemisphere.