Revision of Iberian species of the genus Merodon (Diptera: Syrphidae)

Abstract

Abstract. This study is a revision of the Iberian Merodon Meigen, 1803 species, including an illustrated key, a discussion of taxonomic characters and a morphological diagnosis for all included species. Descriptions are provided for nine new species: M. antonioi sp. n., M. arundanus sp. n., M. cabanerensis sp. n., M. crypticus sp. n., M. hurkmansi sp. n., M. legionensis sp. n., M. longispinus sp. n., M. luteihumerus sp. n. and M. quercetorum sp. n. The taxon M. escorialensis Strobl, 1909 is redescribed and lectotype is designated. Lectotypes are designated for four taxa: M. albifrons Meigen, 1822; M. spinipes obscuritarsis Strobl in Czerny & Strobl, 1909; M. spicatus Becker, 1907; and M. spinipes grossus Gil Collado, 1930 Sack, 1913, M. pumilus Macquart, 1849, M. ottomanus Hurkmans, 1993 and M. segetum (Fabricius, 1794 are new for the Iberian Peninsula. Male genitalia are illustrated for all the species and a key of the 34 Iberian species (+ M. hurkmansi sp. n.) for males and females (except for the unknown female of M. longispinus sp. n.) is appended. Distribution and biological data for the Iberian species are also included. A brief zoogeographic discussion is also presented. The level of endemism of genus Merodon on the Iberian Peninsula is extremely high (almost 50%). 531In the Iberian Peninsula 30 species of Merodon were recorded (Marcos-García et al., 2002) with 23% of the species being endemic. Data on adult habitats, visited flowers, flight periods and Spanish distributions are provided in Marcos-García (1985a, b, 1989, 1990a but the Iberian Merodon species had not been comprehensively revised before. The high number of species and endemism in the Iberian Peninsula, the apparent similarities between species and deficiencies in the original description of some species and the lack of an integrated study, stimulated us to delve into the knowledge of the taxonomy and distribution of the Iberian species of Merodon to facilitate future studies on this genus. The present comprehensive study, in which eight new species are described, brings the total to 34 Iberian Merodon species plus M. hurkmansi sp. n. from Algeria. Whereas the latter does not presently belong to the Iberian fauna, it has also been included in this revision to facilitate its separation from M. albifrons Meigen, 1822 and considering the possible discovery of this species in the Iberian Peninsula due to the proximity and the high level of connection between Spain and this African country. MATERIAL AND METHODSThe systematic portion of the present study is based on the examination of all the available material of this genus previously cited in bibliography or unpublished works and belonging to private collections. Type specimens of some species have also been studied.The following acronyms of museums and entomological collections containing material studied are used in the text: WBCWerner Barkemeyer collection, Flensburg, Germany; BMNHThe Natural History Museum, London, UK; CEUA -Colección Entomológica Universidad de Alicante, Spain; IEE -Insti...

Genetic characterization of the Balkan endemic species, Merodon desuturinus (Diptera: Syrphidae)

“…Numerous species are (steno)endemic, especially on Iberian and Balkan Peninsulas, in Turkey and SW Asia. Larval development and natural history remain poorly known (Marcos-García et al, 2007). Immature stages were described for only a few species, the first were larvae of Merodon equestris Fabricius that are internal feeders on tissues of plant bulbs (e.g.…”

“…The three additional species belonging to the same species group are M. planifacies Bezzi, 1915 (South Africa), M. lydicus Hurkmans (A. Vuji , unpubl.) (East Mediterranaean), and M. cabanerensis Marcos-García, Vuji & Mengual (Marcos-García et al, 2007), which was recently discribed from Spain.…”

New data on theMerodonMeigen 1803 fauna (Diptera: Syrphidae) of Turkey including description of a new species and changes in the nomenclatural status of several taxa

“…Sampling sites covered a wide altitudinal range (100-2100 m) (see annex) and habitats where Merodon adults often occur, such as valleys and riverbanks, were selected for survey. Fieldwork was more intensive in mountain areas (only eight sampling sites were located under 500 m; see annex), where the number of species and incidence of endemism are higher (Marcos-García et al 2007). Habitat and fl owers visited were recorded, when possible.…”

“…Turkey and the Iberian Peninsula are the main centres of Merodon biodiversity (MarcosGarcía et al 2007). Adults of Merodon feed on pollen and nectar and visit the fl owers of a wide range of plant species (Marcos-García et al 2007), especially those with easily accessible pollen. Merodon larvae are also phytophagous and feed exclusively on bulbs or rhizomes of monocotyledonous geophytes (Hurkmans 1993).…”

“…Th ere are only two extensive reviews of Merodon species: Hurkmans (1993) which covers certain groups of Palaearctic species, and Marcos-García et al (2007) which revises the Merodon fauna of the Iberian Peninsula. Integrated taxonomic studies of Merodon in the eastern Mediterranean region of Europe are limited to those of Vujić et al (2007) and Ståhls et al (2009) dealing with the fauna and molecular taxonomy, respectively, of the Merodon species from the Greek island of Lesvos.…”