Six clades are inferred from a phylogenetic analysis including 42 species belonging to the Empis (Coptophlebia) hyalea-group. These clades are named as follows: E. (C.) acris, E. (C.) aspina, E. (C.) atratata, E. (C.) hyalea, E. (C.) jacobsoni and E. (C.) nahaeoensis. The presence of two dorsal more or less developed epandrial projections is considered autapomorphic for the E. (C.) hyalea-group in addition to two characters previously found to support the monophyly of this group (presence of an unsclerotized zone in the middle of labella and epandrium unpaired). Amongst the cladistically analysed species, 24 are newly described [E. (C.) acris, E. (C.) aspina, E. (C.) cameronensis, E. (C.) duplex, E. (C.) incurva, E. (C.) inferiseta, E. (C.) kuaensis, E. (C.) lachaisei, E. (C.) lamellalta, E. (C.) lata, E. (C.) loici, E. (C.) longiseta, E. (C.) mengyangensis, E. (C.) menglunensis, E. (C.) missai, E. (C.) nimbaensis, E. (C.) padangensis, E. (C.) parvula, E. (C.) projecta, E. (C.) pseudonahaeoensis, E. (C.) submetallica, E. (C.) urumae, E. (C.) vitisalutatoris and E. (C.) woitapensis], five are reviewed [E. (C.) hyalea Melander, E. (C.) jacobsoni De Meijere, E. (C.) ostentator Melander, E. (C.) sinensis Melander and E. (C.) thiasotes Melander] and 13 were recently described in two previous papers. Two additional species, E. (C.) abbrevinervis De Meijere and E. (C.) multipennata Melander, are also reviewed but not included in the cladistic analysis since they are only known from the female. A lectotype is designated for E. (C.) jacobsoni. A key is provided to the six clades of the E. (C.) hyalea-group as well as to species of each clade. A catalogue of the E. (C.) hyalea-group, including 72 species, is given. The taxonomic status of 25 additional species mainly described by Bezzi and Brunetti, from the Oriental and Australasian regions, is discussed. The E. (C.) hyalea-group is firstly recorded from the Palaearctic Region and Australia. Finally, the distribution and the habitats of the species compared with their phylogeny suggest a possible relationship between the diversification of the group and forest fragmentations during the Quaternary. © 2005 The Linnean Society of London.