Merodon hypochrysos 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

Merodon hypochrysos Hurkmans, 1993

Merodon hypochrysos Hurkmans, 1993: 165. Type locality: Turkey, Adiyaman province (holotype).

Merodon ankylogaster Hurkmans, 1993: 169. Type locality: Iran, Fārs province. Syn. nov.

Type locality.

Turkey, Adiyaman province; Iran, Fārs province.

Type material examined.

Merodon ankylogaster Hurkmans: Original description was based on male holotype and female paratype from the same locality ( Hurkmans 1993). -

Holotype.

IRAN • ♂; Fārs Province, Road Chiraz (Shiraz)-Kazeroun, Fort Sine-Sefid; 29°35'N, 52°E; 29 Apr. 1937; Brandt F.H. leg.; NBCN [specimen dry pinned, head glued on the locality label, right mesoleg, left metaleg and right tarsi are missing, genitalia in separate microvial]. Original labels: "Iran, Fars 1937 / Rd Chiraz (Shiraz)-Kazeroun / Fort Sine-Sefid / coll F.H. Brandt 29.IV." [written with pencil], "Holotype of / Merodon ankylo- / gaster Hurkmans" [red label handwritten], "Museum Leiden / Collectie / Van Doesburg / rec.1973", " Lampetia ♂ batumica Param. / det. v. Doesburg ", “02559”. - Paratype. IRAN • 1 ♀; Fārs Province, Road Chiraz (Shiraz)-Kazeroun, Fort Sine-Sefid; 29°35'N, 52°E; 29 Apr. 1937; Brandt F.H. leg.; NBCN.

Merodon hypochrysos Hurkmans: Original description was based on holotype and 20 paratypes from Hakkari province in Turkey ( Hurkmans 1993). This species was described based on only males and classified as member of " alexeji group" (= Merodon serrulatus group) by Hurkmans (1993). - Holotype: TURKEY • ♂; Adiyaman, 10 km North of Celikhan, Alti Haral Gölű; 38°05'N, 38°22' E; 1450 m a.s.l.; 1 Jul. 1986; Lucas J.A.W. leg.; NBCN [specimen dry pinned]. Original label: "Turkey, Adiyaman, 10 kms. North of Celikhan, Alti Haral Gölű (38°05'N, 38°22' E), 1450 m, 1.vii.1986, leg. Lucas". - Paratypes: TURKEY • 20 ♂♂; Hakkari, Sat Dağlari, Varegös; 37°25'N, 43°55'E; 1600-1650 m a.s.l.; 15-18 Jun. 1984; Lucas J.A.W. leg.; NBCN.

Notes on synonymy.

Hurkmans designated Merodon ankylogaster as a member of the " Merodon tarsatus group". The male holotype of M. ankylogaster , designated by Hurkmans (1993), belongs to M. hypochrysos . Based on prior citation of M. hypochrysos in the same publication, M. ankylogaster becomes a junior synonym. The character of elongated basoflagellomere with pointed apex clearly shows that the female paratype of M. ankylogaster does not belong to M. hypochrysos , but to M. angustitarsis Vujić & Gilasian sp. nov. here described (in M. hypochrysos basoflagellomere short with rounded apex).

Additional material examined.

IRAN • 1 ♂; Kermān Province, Bāft County, Ghale Asgar ; 29°30 ’13” N, 56°38 ’19” E; 2740 m a.s.l.; 3 May 2007; Gilasian E., Nematian M. leg. ; HMIM • 5 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; 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. • 4 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Fārs Province, Dasht-e Arjan ; 29°37 ’48” N, 51°54 ’43” E; 2040 m a.s.l.; 5 May 2016; Kafka M. leg. ; M. B. coll. • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; 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 • 5 ♂♂; Lorestān Province, Dorud County, Lanjabad ; 33°25 ’08” N, 48°59 ’10” E; 950 m a.s.l.; 10 May 2016; Kafka M. leg. ; M. B. coll. • 1 ♂; Lorestān Province, Dorud County, Lanjabad ; 33°25 ’59” N, 49°01 ’44” E; 670 m a.s.l. (+/- 300 m); 11 May 2016; Kafka M. leg. ; M. B. coll. • 2 ♀♀; Lorestān Province, Dorud County, Lanjabad ; 33°25 ’59” N, 49°01 ’44” E; 1670 m a.s.l.; 10-11 May 2016; Kafka M. leg. ; M. B. coll. • 2 ♂♂; Tehran Province, Damāvand Village, Damavand Mt area , 75 km NE Teheran (Tehran); 35°58 ’32” N, 52°06 ’20” E; 27 Jul. 1976; Lavalle A.G. leg. ; USNM ENT 00036574, USNM ENT 00036575, 05120 (NMNH) • 1 ♂; East Azerbāijan Province, Arasbārān, Keleybar forest ; 38°50 ’29” N, 47°00 ’02” E; Khaghaninia S. leg.; MMH 10277 . - ISRAEL • 1 ♂; Mount Hermon ; 2000 m a.s.l.; 8 Jun. 1975; Friedberg A. leg. ; TAUI • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 12 Jun. 1996 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 30 May 1979; Kaplan M. leg. • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 20 May 1986; Eldar G. leg. • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 12 Jun. 1996; Merz B., Friedberg A. leg. ; NBCN 02561. - TURKEY • 1 ♀; Hakkari, Sat Dağlari, Varegös; 37°25'N, 43°55'E; 2000 m a.s.l.; 17 Jun. 1984; Warncke K. leg. ; NBCN 04211 • 1 ♂; Adiyaman Province, Mount Nemrut ( Nemrut Dagi ); 1600 m a.s.l.; 1 Jun. 1983; Schacht W. leg. ; D.D. coll. • 1 ♂; Adiyaman Province, Mount Nemrut ( Nemrut Dagi ); 9 Jun. 1996; Snizek M. leg. ; D.D. coll.

Diagnosis.

Small sized (6-8 mm), short to medium long pilose, dark species, with olive-brown reflection (Fig. 20B ); antennae dark brown, basoflagellomere short, about 1.6 times as long as wide, with concave dorsal margin and rounded apex (Figs 11A , 13A ); femora mostly black, tibiae and tarsi partly reddish-yellow (Figs 14C , 17A ); body pile whitish, yellow to gray. Male: metafemur broad, about 3 times longer than wide, covered with shorter pile, except a few long pile ventrally (Fig. 14C ); basotarsomere of metatarsus with parallel margins from dorsal view, about 1.3 times broader than the second tarsomere, ventrally without well-defined brush-like area of dense pile (Fig. 7D, E ); ventral margin of metatrochanter rounded; sternum 4 with medium sized laminate extensions on posterior margin (Fig. 4C ); male genitalia: anterior surstyle lobe oval, elongated, and posterior surstyle lobe broad, triangular to trapezoid (Fig. 22G, H : al, pl); ejaculatory apodeme broader than long (Fig. 22I : ea); lingula very elongated and narrow (Fig. 22I : l). Female: basoflagellomere short and rounded (Fig. 13A ); tarsi black to brown; basotarsomere of metaleg with very short pilosity, without well-defined brush-like area of dense pile ventrally.

Differs from other species from the Merodon tarsatus group by shorter pilosity on metafemur (especially dorsally), with pile shorter than base of metatibia in lateral view (Figs 14C , 17A ); by shorter basoflagellomere with rounded apex (Figs 11A , 13A ); by male basotarsomere of metatarsus narrow in lateral view (Fig. 7E ) and with parallel margins from ventral view (Fig. 7D ); and by characteristic shape of the surstyle lobes in male genitalia (Fig. 22G, H ).

Re-description.

Male. Head: Antenna dark brown; basoflagellomere (Fig. 11A ) short, about 1.6 times as long as wide, about 2 times as long as pedicel, concave dorsally, rounded at apex; fossette dorsolateral and small (Fig. 11A ); arista brown 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 small, with sparse microtrichia; lunule shiny black to brown, bare; eye contiguity short, about 4-6 facets long; vertex isosceles, shiny black (except in front of ocellar triangle); vertex with gray-yellowish pile, 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. 31B ); vertical triangle: eye contiguity: frons = 4: 1: 2.5. - Thorax: Scutum and scutellum black with olive-green to brown lustre, covered with dense, erect yellow to white pile; scutum without 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-whitish; ventral margin of metatrochanter rounded; metafemur moderately broad, about 3 times longer than wide, with shorter pilosity, except a few longer pile on ventral surface, about half of width of metafemur (Fig. 14C ); apicomedial lamina on metatibia very small, covered with a few white pile; basotarsomere of metatarsus not expanded, about 1.3 times broader than second tarsomere (Fig. 7E ), 2 times longer than broad, with parallel margins in dorsal view, ventrally without well-defined brush-like area of dense pile, without spine-like setae along ventrolateral margin (Fig. 7D, E ). - Abdomen (Fig. 20B ): Short pilose, about 1.1 times longer than mesonotum; terga dark brown to black; terga 2-4 without or with poorly visible pair of narrow, white pollinose fasciae; pile on terga gray-whitish, medial part of terga 3-4 usually with black pile; sterna dark brown, covered with long whitish pile; sternum 4 with medium sized laminate extensions on posterior margin (Fig. 4C ). - Male genitalia: Anterior surstyle lobe oval and elongated, about 2 times longer than wide, covered with dense, short pile (Fig. 22G, H : al); posterior surstyle lobe broad, triangular to trapezoidal (Fig. 22G, H : pl); cercus rectangular (Fig. 22G : c); hypandrium sickle-shaped, without lateral projections; lingula very elongated and narrow (Fig. 22I : l). - Female. Similar to male except for normal sexual dimorphism and following characteristics: basoflagellomere short, about 1.5 times longer than wide (Fig. 13A ); frons with pollinose vittae along eye margins; frons covered with intermixed gray-yellow and black 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 more distinct; basotarsomere of metatarsus longer, 2.5 times longer than broad (Fig. 17A ).

Distribution and ecological data.

Merodon hypochrysos occurs in the region of the Middle East, including Iran, Israel and southeastern Turkey (Fig. 26 ). It was recorded in Iran within arid and semi-arid forests ecosystem with Quercus brantii as 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). These localities belong to ecoregions of the Zagros mountains forest steppe and Elburz range forest steppe ( Olson et al. 2001). Iranian collection sites of M. hypochrysos in the Zāgros mountain range include: Yāsuj, with very cold winters and moderate summers, 15.2°C average annual temperature and 864 mm annual precipitation, with Quercus persica Jaub. & Spach 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 (Spach) C. K. Schneid) ( ‘Arjan’ in Persian) as dominant plant species; Dorud, with cold winters and moderate summers, 670 mm annual precipitation, with Asteraceae , Papilionaceae , Poaceae , Rosaceae and Lamiaceae as dominant plant families; Semirom, with very cold winters and moderate summers, 335 mm annual precipitation and 12.5°C average annual temperature, with Astragalus verus Olivier, Poa bulbosa L. and Bromus tomentellus Boiss. as dominant plant species. Damāvand is located close to the highest mountain in Iran with the same name Damāvand with 5671 m a.s.l, in the Alborz mountain range, with cold winters and moderate summers, with 540 mm annual precipitation and with about 10°C average annual temperature; 370 plant species belonging to 206 genera and 56 families have been recorded from this area; Asteraceae , Poaceae , Rosaceae , Lamiaceae , Brassicacaea and Caryophyllaceae are dominant plant families in this area. The Keleybar forest, with 400-600 mm annual precipitation and about 10°C average annual temperature is located in the north-east of Iran; Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl., Carpinus betulus L. and Cornus mas L. are the dominant plant species in this area. The western part of the range of M. hypochrysos (Turkey and Israel) belongs to the Eastern Mediterranean conifer-sclerophyllous-broadleaf forests. The vegetation of this ecoregion includes maquis, coniferous forests of Pinus halepensis Mill. and P. brutia Ten., dry Quercus spp. woodlands and steppe formations ( WWF 2022). The montane forest of Mt. Hermon (locality in Israel) is dominated by Quercus infectoria subsp. veneris , Q. libani , Juniperus drupacea , and Acer monspessulanum subsp. microphyllum , accompanied by Mediterranean maquis and semi-steppe bathas ( Danin 1988). On the basis of our data the flight period is from early May to late July.

Figures

Figure 4. Sternum 4 of male, lateral view. A M. angustitarsis Vujic & Gilasian sp. nov., B M. dumosus Vujic, Likov & Radenkovic sp. nov., C M. hypochrysos, D M. namaghijamii Vujic, Likov & Radenkovic sp. nov., E M. oidipous, F M. tarsatus. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 7. Metatarsi. A - C M. angustitarsis Vujic & Gilasian sp. nov., D, E M. hypochrysos. (A, D, E) male, (B, C) female; (A) ventro-lateral view, (D) ventral view, (B, C, E) lateral view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A-C), 1 mm (D, E).

Figure 11. Basoflagellomere of male, lateral view. A M. hypochrysos, B M. namaghijamii Vujic, Likov & Radenkovic sp. nov., C M. oidipous, D M. pakistanicus Vujic, Likov & Radenkovic sp. nov., E M. rufitarsis, F M. tarsatus. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 13. Basoflagellomere of female, lateral view. A M. hypochrysos, B M. latiantennatus Vujic, Popov & Prokhorov sp. nov., C M. marginicornis, D M. oidipous, E M. rufitarsis, F M. tarsatus. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 14. Metaleg of male, lateral view. A M. angustitarsis Vujic & Gilasian sp. nov., B M. dumosus Vujic, Likov & Radenkovic sp. nov., C M. hypochrysos, D M. marginicornis, E M. namaghijamii Vujic, Likov & Radenkovic sp. nov., F M. pakistanicus Vujic, Likov & Radenkovic sp. nov. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Figure 17. Metaleg of female, lateral view. A M. hypochrysos, B M. tarsatus, C M. smirnovi. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Figure 20. Abdomen of male, dorsal view. A M. dumosus Vujic, Likov & Radenkovic sp. nov., B M. hypochrysos, C M. latiantennatus Vujic, Popov & Prokhorov sp. nov., D M. marginicornis, E M. oidipous, F M. turkestanicus. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Figure 22. Male genitalia. A - C M. angustitarsis Vujic & Gilasian sp. nov., D - F M. rufitarsis, G - I M. hypochrysos. (A, B, D, E, G, H) epandrium, (C, F, I) hypandrium. (A, C, D, F, G, I) lateral view, (B, E, H) ventral view. Abbreviations: al - anterior surstyle lobe, c - cercus, ea - ejaculatory apodeme, l - lingula, pl - posterior surstyle lobe. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 26. Distribution map of M. hypochrysos, M. latiantennatus Vujic, Popov & Prokhorov sp. nov., M. pakistanicus Vujic, Likov & Radenkovic sp. nov., M. rufitarsis and M. smirnovi.

Figure 31. Head of male, dorsal view. A M. dumosus Vujic, Likov & Radenkovic sp. nov., B M. hypochrysos, C M. latiantennatus Vujic, Popov & Prokhorov sp. nov., D M. marginicornis, E, F M. turkestanicus, G M. namaghijamii Vujic, Likov & Radenkovic sp. nov. Scale bar: 1 mm.