Remarks on Conophorus heteropilosus (Diptera: Bombyliidae) 
Jos Dils 
Abstract. Comparison of the original descriptions and examination of the holotype of Conophorus mauritanicus Bigot, 1892 
have revealed that Conophorus heteropilosus Timon-David, 1952 is a junior subjective synonym of C. mauritanicus Bigot, 1892. 
Samenvatting. Bemerkingen over Conophorus heteropilosus (Diptera: Bombyliidae) 
Vergelijking van de originele beschrijvingen en studie van het holotype van Conophorus mauritanicus Bigot, 1892 hebben 
aangetoond dat Conophorus heteropilosus Timon-David, 1952 een jonger, subjectief synoniem is van C. mauritanicus Bigot, 
1892. 
Résumé. Remarques sur Conophorus heteropilosus (Diptera: Bombyliidae) 
La comparaison des descriptions originales et l'examen de l'holotype de Conophorus mauritanicus Bigot, 1892 ont montré que 
Conophorus heteropilosus Timon-David, 1952 est un synonyme subjectif, plus récent de C. mauritanicus Bigot, 1892. 
Key words: Conophorus heteropilosus - Conophorus mauritanicus - New synonymy. 
Dils, J.: Krekelberg 149, B- 2940 Hoevenen. jos.dils@skynet.be 
The status of Conophorus heteropilosus 
Timon-David, 1952 
In the description of Conophorus heteropilosus, 
Timon-David (1952) compares this new species with 
Conophorus mauritanicus Bigot, 1892. Basically, the 
description of C. heteropilosus is based only on the 
colour of the hairs on the inner underside of the scape: 
"Espèce tres voisine de Conophorus mauritanicus Bigot, 
1892, de Tunisie ; s' en distingue essentiellement par la 
présence de soies jaune d'or sur les articles 1 et 2 de I' 
antenne". Unfortunately, the whereabouts of the 
personal collection of the late Jean Timon-David could 
not be retrieved. 
Fig. 1. Holotype of Conophorus mauritanicus Bigot, 1892, Algeria, leg. 
Sériziat, University Museum, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK 
(Photograph A. Pont). 
Bigot (1892: 360-361), in the original description of 
Conophorus mauritanicus Bigot, 1892, writes about the 
hairs on the antennae: "Antennis nigris, basis, cinereo 
pruinosis et longe nigro pilosis" translated in French in 
the same paper: "Antennes noires, Ie Ier segment 
couvert d'une pruinosité grise, et garni de longs poils 
noirs mélangés de gris". The addition "mélangés de gris" 
is confusing, and is not present in the original Latin 
description. 
Engel (1932-1937) follows the original Latin 
description of Bigot: "Das 1ste und 2de Fühlerglied, 
Bestaubung mit schwacher graugelber Bestaubung und 
ausschliesslich schwarzen Haaren". 
The holotype (Fig. 1) of Conophorus mauritanicus 
Bigot, 1892, Algeria, leg. Sériziat, was deposited in the 
University Museum, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK 
(Evenhuis & Greathead 1999), and examined, on my 
request to Amoret Spooner, by the university honorary 
associate, Dr. Adrian Pont, who wrote the following: 
"Scape with golden hairs amongst the black ones on 
dorsal surface and elsewhere, and a few golden ones also 
on pedicel, from this I can only conclude that the two 
species are indeed the same". 
Fig. 2. Holotype of Conophorus mauritanicus Bigot, 1892, detail of 
antennae showing mixed black and ochreous hairs, University Museum, 
University of Oxford, Oxford, UK (Photograph A. Pont). 
ISSN 0771-5277 
Phegea 41 (3) 01.ix.2013: 61 
