Merodon tarsatus Sack, 1913

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
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scientific name	Merodon tarsatus Sack, 1913
status

Treatment

Merodon tarsatus Sack, 1913 View in CoL

Figs 1A-D View Figure 1 , 2A, B View Figure 2 , 3B View Figure 3 , 4F View Figure 4 , 6L-N View Figure 6 , 11F View Figure 11 , 13F View Figure 13 , 15E, F View Figure 15 , 17B View Figure 17 , 19E View Figure 19 , 21E View Figure 21 , 27 View Figure 27 , 29C View Figure 29 , 30E View Figure 30 , 35C View Figure 35

Merodon tarsatus Sack, 1913: 437.

Type locality.

Tajikistan, Pamir.

Type material examined.

Lectotype: syntype cited as “holotype” in Hurkmans (1993) is designated here as lectotype: TAJIKISTAN • 1 ♂; original label: "Pamir 49409 / Merodon Mer. Sack det. Sack" (ZHMB).

Additional material examined.

AFGHANISTAN • 1 ♀; Badakschan , Schiva high steppe; 7 Jul. 1953 ; Klapperich J. leg.; Bańkowska R. det. as Merodon Merodon Paramonov; NMPC 18240 • 3 ♂♂; Badakschan , Sarekanda; 2800 m a.s.l.; 21 Jul. 1953 ; Klapperich J. leg.; Bańkowska R. det. as Merodon Merodon Paramonov; NMPC 18234, 18236, 18231 • 4 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; NMPC 18233, 18235, 18237, 18238 . - KYRGYZSTAN • 1 ♂; Alay (Alai Range), valley of Gulcha river; 14 Jun. 1963 ; Peck L. leg.; SZMN • 1 ♂; Alay (Alai Range), Gulcha; 2 Jun. 1965 ; Peck L.V. leg.; SZMN 05812 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; SZMN 05813 • 1 ♂; Chuey Region , valley of Kara-Balta river; 1800 m a.s.l.; 30 May 1995 ; Milko D. leg.; SZMN • 1 ♀; 40 km S of Jany Bazar ; 41°42 ’00” N, 71°06 ’00” E; 8-11 Jun. 1995 GoogleMaps ; Halada J. leg.; NBCN 02578 • 1 ♂; near Fergansky mountain range , Wabhang 2; 2800 m a.s.l.; 14 Jun. 1997 ; Dolin W. leg.; M. H. coll. 02577. - TAJIKISTAN • 5 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Gorno Badakhshan , Environs of Barchadev settlement (3-7 km in gorge Bijondara from Barchadev village); 37°17 ’00” N, 71°31 ’00” E; 2640-2748 m a.s.l.; 27 Jun.-30 Jul. 2021 GoogleMaps ; Zinchenko V. leg.; SZMN • 13 ♂♂; same data as for preceding; 27 Jun.-7 Jul. 2021 GoogleMaps ; Barkalov A. leg. • 1 ♂; Gorno Badakhshan , Bogevdara gorge; 2700 m a.s.l.; 29 Jun. 2021 ; Barkalov A. leg.; SZMN • 1 ♂; Tavildara District , near Tavildara, Dehi-Kolon village; 38°23 ’24” N, 70°18 ’36” E; 24-27 May 2016 GoogleMaps ; Danilov Yu. , Barkalov A., Zinchenko V. leg.; SZMN • 111 ♂♂, 45 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 29 May 2016 • 1 ♂; Tavildara District , near Tavildara, Dehi-Kolon village; 38°39 ’00” N, 70°31 ’00” E; 7-8 May 2016 GoogleMaps ; Danilov Yu. , Barkalov A., Zinchenko V. leg.; SZMN 15139 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; SZMN 15137 • 1 ♂; Tavildara District , Dehi-Kolon village; 38°39 ’00” N, 70°31 ’12” E; 1800-2000 m a.s.l.; 20 May 2016 GoogleMaps ; Barkalov A. leg.; SZMN 15138 • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 24 May 2016 GoogleMaps ; SZMN 15135 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; SZMN 15136 GoogleMaps • 2 ♂♂; Environs of Tavildara settlement (4-6 km S Tavildara settlement); 38°39 ’00” N, 70°31 ’00” E; 1965 m a.s.l.; 17-22 Jun. 2021 GoogleMaps ; Barkalov A. leg.; SZMN • 1 ♀; Tavildara District , N spurs of Hazratisho Ridge, Belanga River valley; 38°39 ’36” N, 70°30 ’36” E; 1880-1975 m a.s.l.; 19 May 2016 GoogleMaps ; Zinchenko V. leg.; SZMN 18350 • 34 ♂♂, 18 ♀♀; Tavildara District , Sary Jangal Village; 38°39 ’36” N, 70°29 ’24” E; 1826-1945 m; 25 May 2016 GoogleMaps ; Barkalov A., Danilov Yu., Zinchenko V. leg.; SZMN • 2 ♂♂, 1♀; Alay (Alai Range), 30 km NE of Lyakhsh; 38°29 ’05” N, 71°31 ’34” E; 2700 m a.s.l.; 17 Jun. 1975 GoogleMaps ; Zaitsev V. leg.; SZMN • 5 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Kondara gorge; 38°48 ’00” N, 68°48 ’00” E; 2190 m a.s.l.; 25-27 May 2021 GoogleMaps ; Barkalov A., Zinchenko V. leg.; SZMN • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 27 May 2021 GoogleMaps ; Zinchenko V. leg. • 2 ♀♀; Kondara gorge, Varzob river; 29 May 1934 ; Gussakowski W. leg.; SZMN • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Kondara gorge, Varzob river; 5-8 Jun. 1943 ; Stackelberg A.A. leg.; SZMN • 1 ♀; 35 km N Dushanbe, Kondara ; 38°54 ’01” N, 68°44 ’22” E; 29-30 Jun. 1979 GoogleMaps ; Pulawski W.J. leg.; USNM ENT 00036586, 05139 (NMNH) • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 1 Jul. 1979 GoogleMaps ; USNM ENT 00036587, 05138 • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 2 Jul. 1979 GoogleMaps ; USNM ENT 00036588, 05136 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; USNM ENT 00036589, 05137 GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 4 Jul. 1979 GoogleMaps ; USNM ENT 00036590, 05135 • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 5 Jul. 1979 GoogleMaps ; USNM ENT 00036591, 05134 • 1 ♂; Varzob gorge, 3-7 km NE of village Kalon; 39°03 ’36” N, 68°52 ’12’’ E; 2356 m a.s.l.; 28 Jun. 2018 GoogleMaps ; Barkalov A. leg.; SZMN • 11 ♂♂, 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 3-4 Jul. 2018 GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; 2440 m a.s.l.; 1-4 Jul. 2017 GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 5 Jul. 2017 GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 2358 m a.s.l.; 3 Jul. 2018 GoogleMaps • 114 ♂♂, 23 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 2358-2440 m a.s.l.; 7 Jun.-12 Jul. 2017 GoogleMaps , 2018; Barkalov A., Zinchenko V. leg. • 17 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 7-9 Jun. 2021 GoogleMaps ; Zinchenko V. leg. • 1 ♂; 15 km Tojikobod ; 39°06 ’23” N, 70°49 ’43” E; 1700 m a.s.l.; 12 Jun. 1975 GoogleMaps ; Zaitsev V. leg.; SZMN • 1 ♂; Hissar (Gissar) Mountains ; 6 Jun. 1943 ; Stackelberg A.A. leg.; Museum Leiden Collectie Van Doesburg rec. 1975; Stackelberg det. as Lampetia Lampetia Paramonov; NBCN 02545 • 1 ♀; Hissar (Gissar) Mountains ; 2 May 1944 ; Stackelberg A.A. leg.; Museum Leiden Collectie Van Doesburg rec. 1973; Van Doesburg det. as Lampetia Lampetia Paramonov; NBCN 02548 • 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Hissar (Gissar) Mountains , Kvak; 6 Jul. 1964 ; Zaitsev V. leg.; SZMN • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Khodzha Obi Garm gorge; 30 May 2021; Zinchenko V. leg.; SZMN • 1 ♂; Hodzhamumin mountain , 7 km SSE Vose (Khulbuk); 37°44 ’22” N, 69°40 ’41” E; 700-800 m a.s.l.; 2 Jun. 2003 GoogleMaps ; Perepechayenko V. leg.; steppe slopes, Ferula sp.; SIZK • 2 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; 1200 m a.s.l.; 28 May 2004 GoogleMaps ; Papaver sp . • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Ganishob kishlak 10 km SW Tajikabad; 39°02 ’50” N, 70°47 ’54” E; 2100 m a.s.l.; 18 Jun. 2003 GoogleMaps ; Pak O. leg.; steppe slope, Prangos Prangos; SIZK • 1 ♀; 3 km S Mazarkoza Pass, 25 km NE Tursunzade ; 38°45 ’12” N, 68°27 ’59” E; 2000 m a.s.l.; 20 Jun. 2004 GoogleMaps ; Perepechayenko V. leg.; Juniperus belt; SIZK • 1 ♂; Romit env.; 38°42 ’32” N, 69°17 ’46” E; 1175 m a.s.l.; 14-16 Jun. 2010 GoogleMaps ; Tomkovich K. leg.; SIZK.

Diagnosis.

Medium sized to large (9-13 mm), long pilose, dark species, with olive-brown reflection (Figs 19E View Figure 19 , 21E View Figure 21 ); antennae dark brown; basoflagellomere elongated, 2.2-2.4 times as long as wide (Figs 11F View Figure 11 , 13F View Figure 13 ); legs mostly black; tarsi dark (Figs 15E, F View Figure 15 , 17B View Figure 17 ); body pile pale yellow to gray. Male: metafemur broad, more or less curved, about 2.5-3.5 times longer than wide, covered with long pilosity (Fig. 15E, F View Figure 15 ); basotarsomere of metatarsus expanded, about 3 times broader than the second tarsomere (Figs 6L, M View Figure 6 , 15E, F View Figure 15 ), ventrally with well-defined brush-like area of dense pile extended for 3/4 of its length (Fig. 6L View Figure 6 ); ventral margin of metatrochanter angular; sternum 4 with very long laminate extension on posterior margin (Fig. 4F View Figure 4 ); male genitalia: anterior and posterior surstyle lobes oval (intraspecific variability in shape of posterior surstyle lobe, from oval to triangular) (Fig. 1A-D View Figure 1 : al, pl); ejaculatory apodeme large, broader than long (Fig. 2A, B View Figure 2 : ea); lingula very narrow and short (Fig. 2A View Figure 2 : l).

Similar to Merodon smirnovi from which differs in sternum 2 with pile uniformly distributed (Fig. 35C View Figure 35 ), while sternum 2 with medial patch of long white pile in M. smirnovi (Fig. 35A, B View Figure 35 ); usually black tarsi and tibiae in M. tarsatus (Figs 15E, F View Figure 15 , 17B View Figure 17 ), while is partly reddish-yellow in M. smirnovi (Figs 15D View Figure 15 , 17C View Figure 17 ); basotarsomere of metaleg in male with ventral brush-like area of dense pile extends for 3/4 of its length (Fig. 6L View Figure 6 ), while in M. smirnovi is limited to about 2/3 (Fig. 6A, B View Figure 6 ); male genitalia with oval ventral margin of posterior surstyle lobe in M. tarsatus (Fig. 1A, C, D View Figure 1 : pl), while angular in M. smirnovi (Fig. 24A, C View Figure 24 : p). Differs from male of M. namaghijamii Vujić, Likov & Radenković sp. nov. by holoptic eyes, eye contiguity more than 10 facets long in M. tarsatus (Fig. 20E View Figure 20 ), while in M. namaghijamii Vujić, Likov & Radenković sp. nov. eyes dichoptic (Fig. 31G View Figure 31 ). Additionally, similar to M. pakistanicus Vujić, Likov & Radenković sp. nov., but differs in more incrassate basotarsomere of metaleg in M. tarsatus (Fig. 6M View Figure 6 ), narrower in M. pakistanicus Vujić, Likov & Radenković sp. nov. (Fig. 9D View Figure 9 ). Differs from male of M. turkestanicus by eye contiguity more than 10 facets long (Fig. 30E View Figure 30 ), while in M. turkestanicus eyes dichoptic or shortly connected by distance of 1-5 facets long (Fig. 31E, F View Figure 31 ), and by broader basotarsomere of metaleg in M. tarsatus (Fig. 6L View Figure 6 ), narrower in M. turkestanicus (Fig. 9E, F View Figure 9 ).

Re-description.

Male. Head: Antenna black to dark brown (Fig. 11F View Figure 11 ); basoflagellomere elongated about 2.2-2.4 times as long as wide, more than 2 times as long as pedicel, more or less straight dorsally, tapering to apex; fossette dorsolateral and large (Fig. 11F View Figure 11 ); arista dark and thickened at basal third; face and frons black with gray microtrichia; face and frons covered with dense gray-yellowish pile; oral margin black, with sparse microtrichia; lunule shiny black to brown, bare; eye contiguity 6 facets or more long; vertex isosceles, shiny black; vertex with long yellow-whitish pile, in some cases mixed with black pile on ocellar triangle; ocellar triangle equilateral; occiput with gray-yellow pile, ventrally covered with dense gray microtrichia; eyes covered with dense, long whitish-gray pile (Fig. 30E View Figure 30 ); vertical triangle: eye contiguity: frons = 2.5-3: 1: 2. - Thorax: Scutum and scutellum black with olive-green to purple lustre, covered with dense, erect yellow pile; scutum usually without or with indistinct 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 pile; wings mostly covered with microtrichia; wing veins brown; calypter pale yellow; halter yellow; legs mostly black, except apex of femur, tibia basally, and brown tarsi ventrally in some specimens; pile on legs pale yellow; ventral margin of metatrochanter angular (Fig. 15G View Figure 15 : marked with arrow); metafemur moderately broad, about 2.5-3.0 times longer than wide, with long pile on ventral surface, about as wide as metafemur, longer than pile on dorsal surface, variable in shape, from strongly curved (Fig. 15E View Figure 15 ) to almost straight (Fig. 15F View Figure 15 ); apicomedial lamina on metatibia distinct, covered with very long yellow pile; basotarsomere of metatarsus expanded, more than 3 times broader than second tarsomere (Fig. 6L, M View Figure 6 ), ventrally with well-defined brush-like area of dense pile extended for 3/4 of its length (Figs 6L View Figure 6 , 15E, F View Figure 15 ). - Abdomen: About 1.2 times longer than mesonotum; terga dark brown to black; terga 2-4 each with pair of narrow to indistinct, white pollinose fasciae; pile on terga all yellow to gray-whitish (Fig. 19E View Figure 19 ); sterna dark brown, covered with long whitish-yellow pile. - Male genitalia: Anterior surstyle lobe oval, about 1.5-2 times longer than wide, covered with dense short pile (Fig. 1A-D View Figure 1 : al); posterior surstyle lobe oval to triangular (Fig. 1A-D View Figure 1 : pl); cercus rectangular (Fig. 1A View Figure 1 : c); hypandrium sickle-shaped, without lateral projections; ejaculatory apodeme large, broader than long (Fig. 2A, B View Figure 2 : ea); lingula very narrow and short (Fig. 2A View Figure 2 : l). - Female. Similar to male except for normal sexual dimorphism and following characteristics: basoflagellomere about 1.75 times longer than wide, slightly tapering to apex (Fig. 13F View Figure 13 ); frons with pollinose vittae along eye margins variable in shape and size; frons covered with mostly gray-yellow pile; ocellar triangle covered with black pile; terga covered with gray-whitish to yellow pilosity; medial part of terga 3 and 4 usually with short adpressed black pile; pollinose fasciae on terga 2-4 distinct (Fig. 21E View Figure 21 ); basotarsomere of metatarsus dark, less expanded, without well-defined brush-like area of dense pile (Fig. 6N View Figure 6 ) and without distinct spine-like setae within ventrolateral row of setae (Fig. 6N View Figure 6 ).

Distribution and ecological data.

Merodon tarsatus occurs in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and northeastern Afghanistan (Fig. 27 View Figure 27 ). It was found at localities which belong to four ecoregions: Tian Shan foothill arid steppe, Gissaro-Alai open woodlands, Pamir alpine desert and tundra, and Hindu Kush alpine meadow ( Olson et al. 2001). The localities in the latter ecoregion (Afghanistan) are characterized with two main vegetation types, Thorny Cushions, subalpine and alpine semi deserts and meadows (a mixture of several plant formations), and Dwarf Amygdalus -Semidesert ( Breckle 2007). Artemisia spp. and Ferula spp. dominate, and many sub-shrubs and ephemeral plants are common, including geophytes like Iris , Tulipa , Allium spp., Gagea , Anemone L., Colchicum L. and Muscari Mill. A variety of landscapes of Gissaro-Alai open woodlands range from foothill semideserts to alpine meadows, combined with characteristic mountain forests ( WWF 2022). The steppe grasses grow alongside wild fruit and nut forests, and at the higher altitudes of the mountain ranges a mosaic of open coniferous evergreen Juniperus forests forms the montane belt. Many geophytes (e.g., Allium , Tulipa , Eremurus , Rheum ) are present. The valleys of mountain rivers house riparian forests. Tian Shan semi-desert and steppe vegetation feature Artemisia spp., Stipa spp., and Festuca spp. The Pamir alpine zone consists of Kobresia spp. and Carex spp. meadows. Tall-forb vegetation of the localities of M. tarsatus in the Pamir-Alai and western Tian Shan Mountains in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan includes: mesic mown and grazed subalpine meadows and pastures on fertile soils, forb rich mesophilous tall-forb communities of the western Pamir-Alai Mountains, scree-like tall-forb communities of the eastern Irano-Turanian region, and dry tall-forb communities of the subhumid zone of the eastern Irano-Turanian region ( Nowak et al. 2020a). Prangos pabularia Lindl. ( Apiaceae ) was noted as a flower visited by the adults of M. tarsatus in Tajikistan (Fig. 32A, B View Figure 32 ) in different places, as well as Ferula sp. and Papaver sp. On the basis of our data the flight period is from May to July.

Remarks.

Original description was based on two syntypes from Tajikistan ( Sack 1913). One syntype studied. This species was revised by Hurkmans (1993) as a member of the " Merodon tarsatus group".