Merodon latiantennatus Vujic , Popov & Prokhorov, 2023

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
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FF52A05B-BDC0-474E-9848-0DC95A8155B2
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/140E1D31-56CD-4D56-A5B8-DAD264F34B29
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:140E1D31-56CD-4D56-A5B8-DAD264F34B29
treatment provided by	Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny by Pensoft
scientific name	Merodon latiantennatus Vujic , Popov & Prokhorov
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Merodon latiantennatus Vujic, Popov & Prokhorov sp. nov.

Figs 5A View Figure 5 , 8E View Figure 8 , 10C View Figure 10 , 13B View Figure 13 , 15A, J View Figure 15 , 16C View Figure 16 , 20C View Figure 20 , 21C View Figure 21 , 23D-F View Figure 23 , 26 View Figure 26

M. aff. tarsatus 3 ( Vujić et al. 2021a).

Type locality.

AFGHANISTAN: Kabul Province, Paghman District, Paghman; 2500-2600 m a.s.l.

Type material.

Holotype: ♂; SIZK 25352 [specimen dry pinned in good condition, the right wing is glued on locality label, right meso- and metaleg are missing, taken for molecular analysis, genitalia in separate microvial]. Original labels: "AFGHANISTAN / KABUL PROV., PAGHMAN / H=2500-2600m / 9.06.2016 O. PAK", “TS797”, “25352”. - Paratypes: AFGHANISTAN • 1 ♀; Kabul Province, Paghman District, Paghman; 2600 m a.s.l.; 2 Jun. 2010; SIZK 25353 • 2 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 2700 m a.s.l.; SIZK • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; Pak O. leg. • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 1 Jul. 2013 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 4 Jul. 2013 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 2 Jul. 2013; Skrylnik Yu. leg. • 3 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 2500-2600 m a.s.l.; 9 Jun. 2016; Pak O. leg.

Diagnosis.

Small (7-8 mm), dark species, with bluish reflection (Fig. 20C View Figure 20 ); antennae orange (Figs 10C View Figure 10 , 13B View Figure 13 ), basoflagellomere short, broad, triangular, about as long as wide, with large dorsal fossette in male, which extends laterally and medially (Fig. 10C View Figure 10 ); femora mostly black, tibiae and tarsi partly reddish-yellow (Figs 15A View Figure 15 , 16C View Figure 16 ); body pile whitish to gray. Male: eyes dichoptic, separated by distance of three facets (Fig. 31C View Figure 31 ); metafemur about 3.2 times longer than wide, covered with medium long pilosity (Fig. 15A View Figure 15 ); basotarsomere of metatarsus elongated, more than 4 times longer than the second tarsomere, less expanded, about 1.5 times broader than the second tarsomere (Fig. 15A View Figure 15 ), ventrally with well-defined brush-like area of dense pile extended in 3/4 of its length (Figs 8E View Figure 8 , 15A View Figure 15 ); ventral margin of metatrochanter angular; sternum 4 with long laminate extensions on posterior margin (Fig. 5A View Figure 5 ); male genitalia: anterior surstyle lobe rounded, and posterior surstyle lobe short and broad (Fig. 23D, E View Figure 23 : al, pl); ejaculatory apodeme much broader than long (Fig. 23F View Figure 23 : ea); lingula very elongated and rugose on ventral margin (Fig. 23F View Figure 23 : l). Female: basoflagellomere and tarsi orange-brown; basotarsomere of metaleg long and narrow, more than 3 times longer than the second tarsomere with well-defined brush-like area of dense pile ventrally (Fig. 16C View Figure 16 ).

Similar to Merodon marginicornis from which male differs in shorter and less spiky basoflagellomere (Fig. 10C View Figure 10 ), while strongly tapered to the apex and longer in M. marginicornis (Fig. 10D View Figure 10 ); and by basotarsomere of metaleg with brush-like area of dense pile extending 3/4 of its length (Fig. 8E View Figure 8 ), while in M. marginicornis in basal half (Fig. 8F View Figure 8 ). Clearly differs from male of M. dumosus Vujić, Likov & Radenković sp. nov. by more elongated basotarsomere of the metaleg, more than 3.5 times longer than the second tarsomere in M. latiantennatus Vujić, Popov & Prokhorov sp. nov. (Fig. 15J View Figure 15 ), while about 2.5 times in M. dumosus Vujić, Likov & Radenković sp. nov. (Fig. 15K View Figure 15 ); by the absence of a ventrolateral row of strong setae on basotarsomere of all legs, while is present in M. dumosus Vujić, Likov & Radenković sp. nov. (Fig. 8A, B View Figure 8 ); by shape of basoflagellomere (Fig. 10B, C View Figure 10 ); and by the shape of the male genitalia: anterior surstyle lobe smaller and narrower (Fig. 23D, E View Figure 23 : al), while in M. dumosus Vujić, Likov & Radenković sp. nov. broad and oval (Fig. 23A, B View Figure 23 : al). Female can be differentiated from M. marginicornis by narrow, elongated basotarsomere of metaleg (Fig. 16C View Figure 16 ), while broader and shorter in M. marginicornis (Fig. 16D View Figure 16 ).

Description.

Male. Head: Antenna orange; basoflagellomere (Fig. 10C View Figure 10 ) short, broad, triangular, about as long as wide, about 1.3 times as long as pedicel, with large dorsal fossette which extends laterally and medially (Fig. 10C 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; eyes dichoptic, separated by distance of three facets (Fig. 31C View Figure 31 ); vertex isosceles, shiny black; vertex with gray-yellowish pile; ocellar triangle equilateral; occiput with white-gray pile, ventrally covered with dense gray microtrichia; eyes covered with dense whitish-gray pile (Fig. 31C View Figure 31 ); vertical triangle: frons = 1.5: 1. - Thorax: Scutum and scutellum black, covered with erect gray 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 dark brown; calypter yellow; halter brown-yellow; femora black, tibiae and tarsi partly reddish-yellow; pile on legs pale yellow; ventral margin of metatrochanter angular; metafemur about 3.2 times longer than wide, with medium long pile on ventral surface, about half of width of metafemur, longer than pile on dorsal surface (Fig. 15A View Figure 15 ); apicomedial lamina on metatibia small, covered with long yellowish pile; ventrolateral row of setae on basotarsomere of all legs present, but less distinct; basotarsomere of metatarsus not expanded, about 1.5 times broader than second tarsomere (Fig. 15A View Figure 15 ), about 3.5 times longer than second tarsomere (Fig. 15J View Figure 15 ), ventrally with well-defined brush-like area of dense pile extending 3/4 of its length (Fig. 15A View Figure 15 ). - Abdomen (Fig. 20C View Figure 20 ): About 1.2 times longer than mesonotum; terga black with bluish lustre; terga 2-4 each with pairs of indistinct, white pollinose fascia; pile on terga gray-whitish; sterna dark brown, covered with long whitish pile; sternum 4 with long laminate extensions on posterior margin (Fig. 5A View Figure 5 ). - Male genitalia: Anterior surstyle lobe rounded, about as long as wide, covered with dense, short pile (Fig. 23D, E View Figure 23 : al); posterior surstyle lobe short and broad (Fig. 23D, E View Figure 23 : pl); cercus rectangular (Fig. 23D View Figure 23 : c); hypandrium sickle-shaped, without lateral projections; ejaculatory apodeme extremely broad (Fig. 23F View Figure 23 : ea); lingula very long and rugose on ventral margin (Fig. 23F View Figure 23 : l). - Female. Similar to male except for normal sexual dimorphism and following characteristics: basoflagellomere orange-brown, tapering to apex, about 2 times longer than wide, with small fossette (Fig. 13B 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 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 elongated, about 3.5 times longer than wide (Fig. 16C View Figure 16 ), ventrally with well-defined brush-like area of dense pile, but less defined than in males.

Etymology.

The name " Merodon latiantennatus ", as arbitrary combination, is derived from the Latin adjectives “latus” meaning "wide, broad" and “antennatus” meaning "having antenna", referring to the shape of the male basoflagellomere.

Distribution and ecological data.

Merodon latiantennatus Vujić, Popov & Prokhorov sp. nov. has so far only been recorded in eastern Afghanistan (Fig. 26 View Figure 26 ), at the foot of the southern Hindu Kush mountain range (at 2500-2700 m a.s.l.). It was collected at only one locality which belongs to the Central Afghan Mountains xeric woodlands ( Olson et al. 2001), an open woodland ecoregion, characterized by Prunus L. trees at 2000-2800 m a.s.l. marking the transition zone between Pistacia atlantica communities at lower altitudes and higher sub-alpine vegetation. The main vegetation types in the area are Thorny Cushions, subalpine and alpine semi deserts, dry steppes, and meadows (a mixture of several plant formations), and Amygdalus -Woodlands ( Breckle 2007). The Amygdalus scrublands (often intermixed with the Pistacia woodlands) are rich in geophytes such as Eremurus M. Bieb., Tulipa L., Iris Tourn. ex L., Allium spp., Gagea Salisb., Corydalis D.C., and Rheum L. The type locality of M. latiantennatus Vujić, Popov & Prokhorov sp. nov. is presented on Fig. 32D View Figure 32 . On the basis of our data the flight period is from June and July.