Merodon marginicornis Hurkmans, 1993

Vujic, Ante, Radenkovic, Snezana, Barkalov, Anatolij, Kocis Tubic, Natasa, Likov, Laura, Tot, Tamara, Popov, Grigory, Prokhorov, Alex, Gilasian, Ebrahim, Anjum, Shehzad, Djan, Mihajla, Kakar, Banafsha & Andric, Andrijana, 2023, Taxonomic revision of the Merodon tarsatus species group (Diptera, Syrphidae), Arthropod Systematics & amp; Phylogeny 81, pp. 201-256 : 201

publication ID	https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/asp.81.e93570
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scientific name	Merodon marginicornis Hurkmans, 1993
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Merodon marginicornis Hurkmans, 1993 View in CoL

Figs 5B View Figure 5 , 8F-H View Figure 8 , 10D View Figure 10 , 13C View Figure 13 , 14D View Figure 14 , 16D View Figure 16 , 20D View Figure 20 , 21C View Figure 21 , 23G-I View Figure 23 , 28 View Figure 28 , 31D View Figure 31

Merodon marginicornis Hurkmans, 1993: 166. Type locality: Iran, Fārs province, Shirāz (holotype).

Merodon xanthipous Hurkmans, 1993: 175. Type locality: Iran, Fārs province, Shirāz. Syn. nov.

Type locality.

Iran, Fārs province, Shirāz.

Type material examined.

Merodon xanthipous Hurkmans: Original description was based on male holotype and female paratype from the localities close to the locality of holotype of Merodon Merodon ( Hurkmans 1993). - Holotype: IRAN • ♂; Chiraz (Shiraz); 29°30 ’00” N, 52°00 ’00’’ E; 11 Apr. 1937; Brandt F.H. leg.; NBCN [specimen dry pinned, left metaleg, metatibia metatarsi, right metatibia and metatarsi are missing, genitalia in separate microvial]. Original labels: "IRAN Chiraz / 11.IV.1937 [11.IV. written with pencil] / coll. BRANDT", " Lampetia / crassicornis ♂ Sack / det. V. Doesburg", "Museum Leiden / Collectie / Van Doesburg / rec. 1973", "Holotype Merodon " [red label handwritten], “02540”. - Paratype: IRAN • 1 ♀; Road Chiraz (Shiraz)-Kazeroun, Fort Sine-Sefid; 19 Apr. 1937; Brandt F.H. leg.; Sack, V. Doesburg det. as Lampetia Lampetia; NBCN.

Merodon marginicornis Hurkmans: Original description was based on one male specimen designated as holotype ( Hurkmans 1993). This species was classified as a member of " alexeji group" by Hurkmans (1993). - Holotype: IRAN • ♂; Chiraz (Shiraz); 26°40'N, 52°30'E; 11 Apr. 1937; Brandt F.H. leg.; NBCN. Original label: "Iran, Chiraz (Shiraz) (26°40'N, 52°30'E), 11.iv.1937, Coll. F. H. Brandt".

Notes on synonymy.

Hurkmans designated M. xanthipous as a member of " Merodon tarsatus group". Both taxa belong to the same species and based on prior citation of M. marginicornis in the same publication, M. xanthipous becomes a junior synonym.

Additional material examined. IRAN • 1 ♂; Fārs Province, Dasht-e Arjan; 29°33 ’07” N, 51°56 ’31” E; 2260 m a.s.l. (+/-300 m); 4 May 2016; Kafka M. leg.; M. B. coll. • 4 ♂♂, 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 5 May 2016 • 3 ♂♂; Fārs Province, 15 km S of Dasht-e Arjan; 29°33 ’09’’ N, 51°56 ’22” E; 2261 m a.s.l.; 2-6 May 2016; Obořil M. leg.; J.H. coll. 18257, 18258, 18259 • 2 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; J.H. coll. 18269, 18275 • 1 ♂; Fārs Province, Sepidān; 30°17 ’13” N, 51°58 ’15” E; 2540 m a.s.l., 8 May 2007; Gilasian E., Nematian M. leg.; HMIM 04460 • 1 ♀; Kermān Province, Māhān District, Bolbolouyeh Village; 30°09 ’37” N, 57°22 ’10’’ E; 2430 m a.s.l.; 29 Apr. 2007; Gilasian E., Nematian, M. leg.; HMIM 04459 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Kohgiluyeh & Boyer-Ahmad Province, Yāsuj, Sarab-e Taveh; 30°29 ’24” N, 51°39 ’29” E; 2390 m a.s.l.; 4 May 2016; Kafka M. leg.; M. B. coll. • 1 ♀; Isfahān Province ( Esfahān Province), Semirom County, Kommeh; 31°01 ’01” N, 51°35 ’28” E; 2760 m a.s.l.; 12 May 2007; Gilasian E. leg.; HMIM 02543 • 1 ♀; Chāhārmahāl & Bakhtiāri Province, 30 km SE of Lordegān; 31°21 ’00” N, 51°09 ’00” E; 1900 m a.s.l.; 31 May 2014; Halada J. leg.; M. B. coll. • 1 ♂; Alborz Province, Karaj County, 10 km N of Gachsar; 36°09 ’00” N, 51°18 ’00” E; 2300-2700 m a.s.l.; 7 Jun. 2014; Halada J. leg.; M. B. coll. 10433. - PAKISTAN • 1 ♀; Balochistan Province, Ziarat District, 35 km W of Ziarat; 30°23 ’14” N, 67°20 ’22” E; 11 May 1984; McGinley R.J. leg.; 05117, USNM ENT00036567 (NMNH) • 2 ♂♂; Balochistan Province, Qilla Saifullah District, Kan Mehtarzai; 30°44 ’35” N, 67°31 ’02” E; 5 May 2017; Banafsha K. leg.; NARC 17745, 17746 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; NARC 18121 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; NARC. - TURKMENISTAN • 50 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; Kopet-dag Mountain, 15 km W of Firyuza settlement, Dushak mountain; 37°54 ’05” N, 57°54 ’44” E; 4-9 May 1987, 16-20 May 1988; Barkalov A., Dubatolov V.V. leg.; SZMN • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 2100 m a.s.l.; 7 May 1987; Barkalov A. leg.; SZMN 05843 • 14♂♂, 34♀♀; Kopet-dag Mountains, Firyuza settlement; 37°54 ’58” N, 58°05 ’22” E; 3 May 1991; Dubatolov V.V., Zinchenko V. leg.; SZMN • 1 ♂; Ahal Region, Gökdepe District, SW of Geok Tepe; 38°04 ’52” N, 57°52 ’48” E; 9 May 1988; Barkalov A. leg.; SZMN • 18 ♂♂, 27 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 11 May 1988 • 14 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀; 50 km WNW Firyuza settlement, Mirzadag Mountain; 38°05 ’07” N, 57°34 ’27” E; 16 May 1987; Dubatolov V.V. leg.; SZMN • 1 ♂; Kopet-dag Mountains, 20 km E Nokhur settlement, Karayalchi gorge; 38°28 ’25” N, 57°09 ’09” E; 28 Apr. 1991; Dubatolov V. leg.; SZMN.

Diagnosis.

Small to medium sized (7-11 mm), medium long pilose, dark species, with olive-brown reflection (Figs 20D View Figure 20 , 21C View Figure 21 ); antennae reddish-brown, basoflagellomere elongated, 1.8-2.1 times as long as wide, with concave dorsal margin (Figs 10D View Figure 10 , 13C View Figure 13 ); femora mostly black, tibiae and tarsi partly reddish-yellow (Figs 14D View Figure 14 , 16D View Figure 16 ); body pile whitish-yellow to gray. Male: metafemur broad, about 3.3 times longer than wide, covered with long pilosity (Fig. 14D View Figure 14 ); basotarsomere of metatarsus expanded, about 2 times broader than the second tarsomere (Fig. 14D View Figure 14 ), with ventrolateral row of strong setae (Fig. 8F, G View Figure 8 ), ventrally with well-defined brush-like area of dense pile extended in basal half (Fig. 8F View Figure 8 ); ventral margin of metatrochanter angular; sternum 4 with medium long laminate extensions on posterior margin (Fig. 5B View Figure 5 ); male genitalia: anterior surstyle lobe triangular and elongated (Fig. 23G View Figure 23 : al), while posterior surstyle lobe triangular (Fig. 23G, H View Figure 23 : pl); ejaculatory apodeme longer than broad (Fig. 23I View Figure 23 : ea); lingula short and narrow (Fig. 23I View Figure 23 : l). Female: basoflagellomere with angular apex and large fossette (Fig. 13C View Figure 13 ); tarsi yellow-reddish (Fig. 16D View Figure 16 ), in some specimens dorsally brown to dark, especially on metaleg; basotarsomere of metaleg more or less with parallel margins from ventral view, and with a few distinct, strong spine-like setae within the ventrolateral row of setae (Fig. 8H View Figure 8 ); metafemur with dense long pilosity ventrally (Fig. 16D View Figure 16 ).

Male similar to Merodon latiantennatus Vujić, Popov & Prokhorov sp. nov. from which differs in more elongated basoflagellomere with pointed apex (Fig. 10D View Figure 10 ), which is shorter and more triangular in M. latiantennatus Vujić, Popov & Prokhorov sp. nov. (Fig. 10C View Figure 10 ); by basotarsomere of metaleg with ventral brush-like area of dense pile limited to basal half in M. marginicornis (Fig. 8F View Figure 8 ), while in M. latiantennatus Vujić, Popov & Prokhorov sp. nov. pile extending 3/4 of its length (Fig. 8E View Figure 8 ). Clearly differs from M. dumosus Vujić, Likov & Radenković sp. nov. by less distinct ventrolateral row of setae on the basotarsomere of all legs, while the setae are long and strong in M. dumosus Vujić, Likov & Radenković sp. nov. (Fig. 8A View Figure 8 ); by the shape of the basoflagellomere (Fig. 10 B, D View Figure 10 ); and by shape of male genitalia: anterior surstyle lobe triangular and elongated and posterior surstyle lobe short and triangular (Fig. 23G View Figure 23 : al, pl), while in M. dumosus Vujić, Likov & Radenković sp. nov. anterior surstyle lobe enlarged and oval and posterior surstyle lobe large and oval (Fig. 23A View Figure 23 : l, pl). Females can be differentiated from M. hypochrysos in sympatric populations by longer basoflagellomere in M. marginicornis (Fig. 13C View Figure 13 ), while shorter, with oval apex in M. hypochrysos (Fig. 13A View Figure 13 ), and broad white pollinose fascia on terga 2-4 in M. marginicornis (Fig. 21C View Figure 21 ).

Re-description.

Male. Head: Antenna reddish-brown; basoflagellomere (Fig. 10D View Figure 10 ) reddish, elongated, about 1.9-2.1 times as long as wide, about 3 times as long as pedicel, concave dorsally, strongly tapering to apex, pointed apically; fossette dorsolateral and large (Fig. 10D View Figure 10 ); arista black and thickened at basal third; face and frons black with gray microtrichia; face covered with dense whitish pile, frons with gray-yellowish pile; oral margin black, with sparse microtrichia; lunule shiny black to brown, bare; eye contiguity about 8-10 facets long; vertex isosceles, shiny black, anterior part pollinose; vertex with long, yellowish-gray pile, in some cases mixed with a few black pile on ocellar triangle; ocellar triangle equilateral; occiput with white-gray pile, ventrally covered with dense gray microtrichia; eyes covered with dense whitish-gray pile (Fig. 31D View Figure 31 ); vertical triangle: eye contiguity: frons = 2.5: 1: 2. - Thorax: Scutum and scutellum black with olive-green to brown lustre, covered with dense, erect yellow to white pile; scutum without less distinct pollinose vittae; anterior half of scutum from dull to shiny; posterodorsal part of anterior anepisternum, posterior anepisternum (except anteroventral angle), anterior anepimeron, dorsomedial anepimeron, and posterodorsal and anteroventral parts of katepisternum with long, dense pale yellow to gray pile; wings mostly covered with microtrichia; wing veins brown; calypter pale yellow; halter yellow; femora mostly black, tibiae and tarsi partly reddish-yellow; pile on legs pale yellow; ventral margin of metatrochanter angular; metafemur moderately broad, about 3.3 times longer than wide, with long pile on ventral surface, about half width of metafemur, longer than pile on dorsal surface (Fig. 14D View Figure 14 ); apicomedial lamina on metatibia covered with long yellow pile; basotarsomere of metatarsus expanded, about 2 times broader than second tarsomere (Fig. 14D View Figure 14 ), ventrally with well-defined brush-like area of dense pile extended in basal half (Fig. 8F View Figure 8 ), with ventrolateral row of long, strong setae (Fig. 8G View Figure 8 ). - Abdomen (Fig. 20D View Figure 20 ): About 1.4 times longer than mesonotum; terga dark brown to black; terga 2-4 each with pair of distinct, white pollinose fasciae; pile on terga gray-whitish; sterna dark brown, covered with long whitish pile; sternum 4 with medium long laminate extensions on posterior margin (Fig. 5B View Figure 5 ). - Male genitalia: Anterior surstyle lobe triangular and elongated, about 1.5 times longer than wide, covered with dense short pile (Fig. 23G View Figure 23 : al); posterior surstyle lobe triangular (Fig. 23G View Figure 23 : pl); cercus rectangular (Fig. 23G View Figure 23 : c); hypandrium sickle-shaped, without lateral projections; lingula short and narrow (Fig. 23I View Figure 23 : l). - Female. Similar to male except for normal sexual dimorphism and following characteristics: basoflagellomere about 1.8 times longer than wide (Fig. 13C View Figure 13 ); frons with pollinose vittae along eye margins; frons covered with mostly gray-yellow pile; ocellar triangle covered with gray to whitish pile, in some specimens mixed with black pile; terga covered with gray-whitish to yellow pilosity; medial part of terga 2-4 usually with short adpressed black pile; pollinose fasciae on terga 2-4 distinct (Fig. 21C View Figure 21 ); basotarsomere of metatarsus yellow-reddish (Fig. 16D View Figure 16 ), less expanded, ventrally without well-defined brush-like area of dense pile (Fig. 8H View Figure 8 ); basotarsomere of metaleg more or less with parallel margins from ventral view, with a few distinct strong spine-like setae within ventrolateral row of setae (Fig. 8H View Figure 8 ).

Distribution and ecological data.

Merodon marginicornis was recorded in Iran, southern Turkmenistan, and western Pakistan (Fig. 28 View Figure 28 ). Its Iranian localities are within arid and semi-arid forests ecosystem with Quercus brantii as the dominant vegetation type, cold-desert steppe scrubland ecosystem ( Artemisia sieberi - Zygophyllum sp.), cold and arid semi steppe scrubland and grasslands ecosystem ( Astragalus spp.), and cold and humid prairies ecosystem ( Trifolium spp.) ( Azizi Jalilian et al. 2020). The ecosystems belong to ecoregions: Zagros mountains forest steppe, Elburz range forest steppe, Kopet Dag woodlands and forest steppe, and Central Persian desert basins ( Olson et al. 2001). The Iranian collection sites of M. marginicornis in the Zāgros mountain range include: Sepidān, a semi-arid and cold mountainous area, with very cold winters and moderate summers, 14.8°C average annual temperature and 695 mm annual precipitation, with Acer monspessulanum , Amygdalus elaeagnifolia , Berberis integerrima , Crataegus azarolus var. aronia , Fraxinus rotundifolia , Cotoneaster persica , Pyrus spp. as dominant plant species; Yāsuj, with very cold winters and moderate summers, 15.2°C average annual temperature and 864 mm annual precipitation, with Quercus persica as the dominant plant species; Dasht-e Arjan, located in the 'Arjan Biosphere Reserve’, with an altitude of 853-3041 m a.s.l., with wild almond trees ( Prunus scoparia ) ( ‘Arjan’ in Persian) as dominant plant species; Semirom, with very cold winters and moderate summers, 335 mm annual precipitation and 12.5°C average annual temperature, with Astragalus verus , Poa bulbosa and Bromus tomentellus as dominant plant species; Lordegān, with hot summers and cold winters, about 650 mm annual precipitation and 16°C average annual temperature, with Astragalus spp. and Quercus brantii as dominant plant species. The eastern part of the range of M. marginicornis (localities in Pakistan) belongs to Baluchistan xeric woodlands. The montane vegetation of this ecoregion includes Juniperus forests (including J. seravschanica Kom. and J. excelsa ), open woodlands with Pistacia atlantica , P. khinjuk Stocks, Prunus eburnea (Spach) Aitch., Berberis L., Lonicera L., Artemisia spp; Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata (Wall. & G. Don) Cif. accompanied by Dodonaea viscosa Jacq. as the transition between the subtropical woodlands and the alpine vegetation of sclerophyllous forest ( WWF 2022). The climate of the collection site in Pakistan is slightly to very hot in summer and really cold in winter; temperature rises as much as 35-40°C in summer and drops to -15°C in winter; dry warm days and cool nights are common in the summertime season; most of the rain falls in winter and ranges between 50-300 mm annually. Mostly apple orchards are grown in this locality, with wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) and Berseem ( Trifolium alexandrinum L.) intercropped. On the basis of our data the flight period of M. marginicornis is from April to early June.

Remarks.

Hurkmans treated many species groups at the same time in the monograph ( Hurkmans 1993), and probably it was more difficult to have a good insight because there were many species compiled to be analyzed simultaneously, instead of more precise studies dedicated to each group separately. He assigned M. marginicornis erroneously in the alexeji group although stated that basitarsi 3 is swollen (but slightly, that was probably the reason why he did not put it in the Merodon tarsatus group), and also stated that sternum 4 is deeply emarginate posteriorly, somewhat valuated (and for M. xanthipous that there are smaller appendages on sternum 4 in comparison to other species of the group). But a detailed study of the type material of both taxa conducted in the present study has unambiguously shown that they belong to the same species of the Merodon tarsatus group.