Mallota fuciformis (Fabricius, 1794)

Żóralski, Robert, Mielczarek, Łukasz, Skitek, Artur & Trzciński, Paweł, 2022, Review of the genus Mallota Meigen, 1822 (Diptera, Syrphidae) in Poland. Przegląd rodzaju Mallota Meigen, 1822 (Diptera, Syrphidae) w Polsce, Dipteron (Oxford, England) 38 (4), pp. 47-63 : 47-63

Mallota fuciformis (Fabricius, 1794)

= Syrphus fuciformis Fabricius, 1794

= Musca fusiformis Turton, 1801 [new name for fuciformis Fabricius ]

MATERIAL EXAMINED: (16 ♂♂, 21 ♀♀, 1 ex. fragment of exuvium, 1 ex. mummified pupa, 3 exx. ova). POLAND. Southern Baltic Coasts. Gdynia: Krykulec Glade in Trójmiejski Landscape Park [ CF 34], 27 V 2003, 1 ♂, leg. J.K. Kowalczyk ( Kowalczyk & Garbalewski 2004, Żóralski & Kowalczyk 2015). Gdynia: Śląska street [ CF 34], 16 V 2010, 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀ (published incorrectly as male), 30 V 2010, 1 ♂, leg. J.K. Kowalczyk ( Żóralski & Kowalczyk 2015). Gdynia-Redłowo: Polanka Redłowska [ CF 44], 26 IV 2016, 1 ♂, leg. J.K. Kowalczyk (Żóralski & Kowalczyk 2017). Darżlubska Forest: springs of the Gizdepka river near Rekowo Górne [ CF 25], 24 IV 2020, 1 ♂, fig. 2d, on Prunus spp. , leg. R. Żóralski. Trójmiejski Landscape Park near Reda [ CF 25], 8 V 2020, 1 ♀, fig. 2g, on Crataegus spp. , 29 IV 2021, 1 ♂, fig. 2a, 2b, on Prunus spp. , 22 V 2021, 2 ♀♀, on Crataegus spp. , leg. R. Żóralski. Kartoszyno [ CF 16], 1 ♂, on Crataegus spp. , 30 V 2021, leg. R. Żóralski. Southern Baltic Lakes. Wielkopolski National Park: Osowa Góra [ XT 29], 18 V 2006, 1 ♀, leg. P. Trzciński. Wielkopolski National Park: strict protection area "Mixed Forest on Morena" [ XT 29], 16 IV 2007, 1 ♀, 15 V 2007, 1 ♂, leg. P. Trzciński. Swarzędz [ XU 30], 19 V 2015, 1 ♂, on flowers of hawthorn Crataegus spp. , leg. A. Skitek. Gortatowo [ XU 41], fig. 2e, 2f, 2 V 2016, 2 ♀♀, flying near the entrance of chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum hollow, one of females laid eggs - 3 of them preserved in EtOH75%, 7 V 2016, 5 ♀♀, 19 V 2016, 1 ♀, the same as mentioned above, leg. A. Skitek. Poznań [ XU 30], 22 III 2017, adults (room condition), fig. 2c: 1 IV 2017, 1 ♂, 2 IV 2017, 1 ♂, 4 IV 2017, 1 ♀, 1 ex. fragment of exuvium, 1 ex. damaged and mummified pupa, buried shallow in the ground near maple Acer platanoides hollow, leg. et cult. ex pupae A. Skitek. Poznań: Nowe Miasto, Eastern Green Belt [ XU 30], 9 V 2022, 1 ♂, 1 ♀, on flowers of Prunus spp. , a male hovering above feeding female, female laid eggs. Central Polish Lowlands. Wrocław [ XS 46], 5 V 1953 (published as 5 VI 1953), 1 ♀, leg. A. Mońko, coll. MIZ PAS (Trojanowa- Bańkowska 1959), 24 IV 1979, 1 ♀, leg. T. Zatwarnicki, det. B. Soszyński. Spalski Landscape Park: Konewka [ DC 41], 23 IV 2015, 2 ♂♂, on Prunus spp. , 24 IV 2015, 1 ♀, leg. R. Żóralski, 24 IV 2015, 1 ♂, 26 IV 2015, 1 ♀, leg. Z. Mocarski ( Witek et al. 2015). Spalski Landscape Park: Ceteń [ DC 50], 27 IV 2015, 1 ♀, leg. Ł. Mielczarek ( Witek et al. 2015).

DIAGNOSTIC FEATURES. Distinguished from other bumblebee-mimic species of the genus, M. tricolor and M. megilliformis , by hairy eyes, rounder shape of the abdomen and body covered by black and orange hair. Males of M. fuciformis have eyes widely separated.

BIOLOGY. Mallota fuciforimis has the earliest phenological appearance of all European Mallota . In Poland adults were observed at the end of April and in May. It is characterized by an almost ideal bumblebee mimic. Both males and females of M. fuciformis can be seen flying on top of flowering wild living fruit trees: plums and cherries Prunus L. and later on hawthorn Crataegus L. Compared to more common Criorhina ranunculi (Panzer, 1804) and Eristalis intricaria (Linnaeus, 1758) being active at that time, flight of Mallota fuciformis is much faster and more dynamic. The intensive orange hair at the end of the abdomen glistening in the sun allows a careful observer to recognize this species in flight. Rearing of larvae were unsuccessful but emerging from pupae collected near maple Acer platanoides hollow succeeded.

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DISTRIBUTION. West Palearctic species, having in Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus and European parts of Russia its northeastern border of the range ( Pennards et al. 2021b). In Poland, it is known from a small number of localities (fig. 2h) although in the areas where it occurs, it was regularly found over the last few years. According to Schroeder (1909) followed by Karl (1935), 2 ex. of M. fuciformis were also collected by Triepke in Garz ( Germany, close to the current border with Poland) as were seen by him in the collection of Marienstifts-Gymnasiums in Szczecin [= Stettin].

CONSERVATION. Species listed in the “Red List of Threatened Animals in Poland ” ( Palaczyk et al. 2002) in category EN (endangered). Because the species seems to be expanding its range in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species ( Pennards et al. 2021b) in category LC (Least Concern).

Mallota megilliformis (Fallén, 1817)

= Syrphus megilliformis Fallén, 1817

MATERIAL EXAMINED: (18 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀). POLAND. Southern Baltic Coasts. The Beech Forest near Szczecin = „Stettin, Buchheide” [ VV 71], 22 VI 1908, 1 ♂, “specimen without head”, leg. G. Schroeder, coll. MIZ PAS. Southern Baltic Lakes. Soczewka, near Skrwa river [ DD 02], 28 VI 1971, 1 ♀, leg. B. Soszyński. Strugaj near Piwnicki Forest Nature Reserve [ CD 38], 5 VII 1977, 1 ♀, leg. T. Pawlikowski, det. B. Soszyński. Eastern Baltic Lakes (= Pojezierza Wschodniobałtyckie). Zelwa [ FE 58], 31 V 2018, 1 ♂, leg. Ł. Mielczarek, 1 ♂, on foliage near alder carr, leg. A. Skitek, 1 VI 2018, 1 ♂, on Sambucus nigra , leg. C. Bystrowski. Augustów Primeval Forest: Stanowisko [ FE 68], 1 VI 2018, 1 ♀, leg. Ł. Mielczarek. Podlasie-Belarus Uplands (= Wysoczyzny Podlasko- Białoruskie). Augustów Primeval Forest: Rubcowo [ FE 66], 16 VI 1977, 1 ♀, leg. B. Soszyński. Central Polish Lowlands. Zdziar-Łopatki ad. Staroźreby, alder carr near Płonka river [ DD 33], 26 V 1971, 1 ♂ 2 ♀♀, leg. J.K. Kowalczyk, det. B. Soszyński. Rogów ad. Skierniewice [ DC 24], 1 VI 1973, 1 ♂, leg. M. Dąbrowski, det. B. Soszyński. Lublinek Forest in Łódź [ CC 83], 1 VI 1981, 2 ♂♂, leg. B. Soszyński (Soszyński & Soszyńska- Maj 2011). Kalonka near Łódź [ DC 04], 16 V 1986, 1 ♂, leg. J.K. Kowalczyk, coll. NHUL ( Kowalczyk & Watała 1991, Kowalczyk et al. 1998, Kowalczyk & Majecki 2002, Soszyński et al. 2010). Spalski Landscape Park: Spała [ DC 40/50], 9 VI 1986, 1 ♂, fig. 3a, 3b, 16 VI 1986, 4 ♂♂, leg. B. Soszyński ( Witek et al. 2015), 4 VI 2004, 1 ♂, leg. Z. Mocarski. Modrzewina Nature Reserve near Grójec [ DC 84], 18 V 2011, 1 ♀, leg. C. Bystrowski. Małopolska Uplands. Las Winiarski near Busko-Zdrój [ DA 79], 18 V 1956, 1 ♂, leg. MIZ PAS team, coll. MIZ PAS ( Bańkowska 1961). Włoszczowa [ DB 23], 4 VI 2009, 1 ♂, fig. 3c, 3e, leg. Ł. Mielczarek. Lublin-Lvov Uplands (= Wyżyna Lubelsko-Lwowska). Roztoczański National Park [ FB 30], 12 VII 1978, 1 ♂, leg. B. Soszyński.

COMPARISON MATERIAL (20 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀). ESTONIA. Kose : hill = "Abhang, Kosch" [ LF96 ], 10 VI 1898, 1 ♂, leg. F. Sintenis, coll. MIZ PAS . LATVIA. Jełgawa = “ Curonia, Maitau 1906” [ FH68 ], 1 ♀, leg. F. Sintenis, coll. MIZ PAS . RUSSIA. Bajkal, Bolsze Koty [ WC05 ], 12 VI 2012, 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀ on flowers of Spiraea L., leg. Ł. Mielczarek. Sayan Mountains : Arszan [ UC24 /25], 22 VI 2012, 1 ♀, leg. Ł. Mielczarek. UNKNOWN LOCALITY. [without date], all on a thin pin, half having handwritten label “Scholtz”, 15 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, [leg. H. Scholtz], coll. MNHW, ex. coll. E.J. R. Scholz. [without date], both on a thick tailor pin, 1 ♂, 1 ♀ having handwritten label “Rotermd.” ,

[ leg. W. Rotermund], coll. MNHW, ex. coll. E.J. R. Scholz. [without date and author], 1 ♀, coll. MIZ PAS, ex. coll. P.I.N.G.W. ( State Research Institute of Rural Economy in Puławy) .

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DIAGNOSTIC FEATURES. Bumblebee mimic. Eyes bare; thorax and abdomen covered with long, dense and almost uniform yellow-brown hair; hind tarsi black.

BIOLOGY. In Poland imagines can be observed from the mid of May till the mid of July. Prefers the edges of deciduous forests, especially floodplain forests with very old poplars and elm trees. The larvae develop in deep cavities of such mature and overmature trees. Adult flies visit the upper parts of hawthorns Crataegus spp. , elderberries Sambucus L. and Spiraea L. (authors’ observations).

DISTRIBUTION. An East European species with a range of occurrence from Fennoscandia, Poland, the Czech Republic and Romania, east into Russia ( Pennards et al. 2021c, own material). In Poland it is a rare species with an island occurrence characteristic for the border of its range. The historical range of this species in Poland was, however, much wider than nowadays, including such locations like: Kraków [DA24] ( Nowicki 1873), Chodecz [CD60] ( Sznabl 1881), Gdańsk [CF42] ( Bachmann 1858, Czwalina 1893, Żóralski & Kowalczyk 2015), Łagiewnicki Forest in Łódź [CC94] ( Kowalczyk & Watała 1991, Kowalczyk et al. 1998, Kowalczyk & Majecki 2002, Soszyński et al. 2010), “Dolina Mrogi” Nature and Landscape Complex [DC06] ( Soszyński et al. 2010). Bańkowska (1961) mentioned she had identified one specimen from the material of prof. S. Kapuściński from Wodzisław Śląski [CA14].

CONSERVATION. Species listed in the “Red List of Threatened Animals in Poland ” ( Palaczyk et al. 2002) in category NT (Near Threatened) and in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species ( Pennards et al. 2021c) in category LC (Least Concern).