Cophinopoda Hull, 1958

Scarbrough, A. G., 2010, An overview of the Afrotropical Ommatiinae (Diptera: Asilidae) with a key to genera, Zootaxa 2540, pp. 1-47 : 9

Cophinopoda Hull

Figs. 2, 8, 19–23, 107

Cophinopoda Hull 1958: 251 . Type species: Asilus chinensis Fabricius, 1794 , by original designation. Hull 1962: 438; Martin 1964: 306; Oldroyd 1980: 346; Daniels 1989: 333; Tsacas & Artigas 1994: 447; Scarbrough & Hill 2000.

Diagnosis. In addition to characters in the key, Cophinopoda is distinguished by the large robust body (30+ mm), dense long setae on ventral 1/2 of face, metanotum just above the halter base and posterior corner of scutellum with small tuft of pale setae, shallow preapical scutellar groove, pair of stout anepimeral bristles, and combined characters of the terminalia of both sexes ( Figs. 19–23).

Distribution. Madagascar and nearby islands.

Remarks. Cophinopoda remains unchanged since its original description. Recent studies have clarified diagnostic characters, added keys, and illustrations of the terminalia ( Tsacas & Artigas 1994, Scarbrough & Hill 2000). Presently 5 species are reported ( Fig. 107): C. aldabraensis Tsacas & Artigas, 1994 [Aldabra and Cosmoledo Is.]; C. borbonica Tsacas & Artigas, 1994 [ Reunion Is.]; C. matilei Tsacas & Artigas, 1994 [ Maurice Is.]; C. pulchripes [ Madagascar; Aldabra, Comoro Is., Europa Is., Sainte-Marie Is., Seychelles, Yemen ( Socotra)], and C. mayottae Bigot, 1859 [Comoro Is.] ( Tsacas & Artigas 1994; Londt per. Comm.). None are known from the African continent.