Merodon smirnovi Paramonov, 1927

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/70BA8011-1B63-5DDF-9158-DA08B7849D65
treatment provided by	Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny by Pensoft
scientific name	Merodon smirnovi Paramonov, 1927
status	stat. rev.

Treatment

Merodon smirnovi Paramonov, 1927 View in CoL stat. rev.

Figs 5E View Figure 5 , 6A-F View Figure 6 , 10E View Figure 10 , 12C View Figure 12 , 15D View Figure 15 , 17C View Figure 17 , 19D View Figure 19 , 24A-C View Figure 24 , 25A View Figure 25 , 26 View Figure 26 , 30F View Figure 30 , 35A, B View Figure 35

Merodon smirnovi Paramonov, 1927: 76 (= 320).

Type locality.

Turkestan, Tashkent.

Type material examined.

Lectotype (designated here in order to fix identity of the species): UZBEKISTAN • 1 ♂; Turkestan, d. Tashkent, Ak-Tash; 21 Jun. 1925; Smirnov E.S. leg.; SIZK [specimen dry pinned in good condition, left fourth and fifth tarsomeres of metaleg missing, genitalia in separate microvial]. Original labels: "Ak-Tash / d. Tashkent / Turkestan / 21.VI.25. Smirnov l." [yellowish, pale violet ink, black-bordered label], " Merodon / "smirnovi n. sp. / ♂. Cotypus / Paramonov. det" [pink double black-bordered, pale violet ink label], "Lectotypus / Merodon smirnovi Param., 1927 G.V. Popov des. 2007" [red label], “02568”. - Paralectotype (designated here): UZBEKISTAN • 1 ♀; Turkestan, d. Tashkent, Ak-Tash; 21 Jun. 1925; Smirnov E.S. leg.; SIZK [specimen dry pinned in very good condition]. Original label: "Ak-Tash / d. Tashkent / Turkestan / 21.VI.25. Smirnov l." [yellowish, pale violet ink, black-bordered label], " Merodon / "smirnovi n. sp. / ♀ Cotypus / Paramonov. det" [pink double black-bordered, pale violet ink label], "Paralectotypus / Merodon Merodon smirnovi Param., 1927 G.V. Popov des. 2007" [red label], “02569”.

Additional material examined.

KAZAKHSTAN • 1 ♀; Fabritchny , 40 km E of Alma Ata; 43°13 ’21” N, 77°20 ’54” E; 23 Jun. 1992; Halada M. leg.; NBCN 02553 GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; Karatau Mountains , 15 km N of Atabaj; 43°38 ’39” N, 68°19 ’45” E; 550-700 m a.s.l.; 9 May 1994; Merz B. leg.; NBCN 02550 GoogleMaps • 2 ♂♂; Almaty Region, Raiymbek District, Charyn River (also known Sharyn River ); 43°17 ’47” N, 78°59 ’24” E; 20 May 2003; Selin A. leg.; S.K. coll. 02549, 02556 GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; S.K. coll. 02557 GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; Almaty Region, Enbekshikazakh District, Kokpek ; 43°29 ’56” N, 78°37 ’10” E; 21 May 2003; Selin A. leg.; S.K. coll. 02555 GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; Almaty Region, Tamgaly ; 43°48 ’07” N, 75°32 ’02’’ E; 886 m a.s.l.; 8 May 2015; Bot S. leg.; S.B. coll. 25467 GoogleMaps • 2 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; S.B. coll. 25468, 25469 GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; Almaty Region, Altyn-Emel National Park, Kalkan field station; 43°51 ’00” N, 78°45 ’00” E; 29 Apr. 2012; Barkalov A. leg.; on flowers on Ferula sp.; SZMN 05811 GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; SZMN 05814 GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; Almaty Region, Altyn-Emel National Park, near Ayak-Kalkan mount; 43°52 ’00” N, 78°43 ’00” E; 23-30 Apr. 2012; Barkalov A., Danilov Yu. leg.; SZMN GoogleMaps • 33 ♂♂, 26 ♀♀; Almaty Region, Altyn-Emel National Park ; 23 Apr.-4 May 2012; Barkalov A., Danilov Yu. N., Zinchenko V. leg.; on Ferula sp.; SZMN • 1 ♀; Almaty Province, Sarkand District, Koylyk ; 45°41 ’30” N, 80°18 ’13” E; 25 May 2004; Selin A. leg.; S.K. coll. 02552 GoogleMaps . - KYRGYZSTAN • 1 ♀; Talasskij mountain ridge; 12 Jul. 1964; Shabalina leg.; SZMN • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Alay (Alai Range), valley of Gulcha river ; 22 Jun. 1963; Peck L. leg.; SZMN • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Alay (Alai Range), Kirgizata river ; 5 Jun. 1965; Peck L. leg.; SZMN • 2 ♂; Chatkal Range, Chap-Chyma pass; 41°31 ’00” N, 70°50 ’00” E; 2400 m a.s.l.; 2 Jul. 1966; Milko D. leg.; SZMN GoogleMaps • 4 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Environs of Ala-Koel lake; 42°17 ’46” N, 78°30 ’17” E; 19 Jun. 1966, 12 Jul. 1968; Ibraimova, Peck L. leg.; SZMN GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; 12 km S Sosnovka, Kara-Balta ; 42°39 ’00” N, 73°54 ’00” E; 1630 m a.s.l.; 28 Jun. 1997; Dolin W. leg.; NHMW 02554 GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; Chüy Region, valley of Kara-Balta river ; 1800 m a.s.l.; 28 May 1995; Milko D. leg.; SZMN • 1 ♂; Chüy Region, near Bishkek, Holodnaja Woda ; 42°42 ’00” N, 75°51 ’00” E; 1260 m a.s.l.; 12 Jun. 1998; Hartmann P. leg.; D.D. coll. 02551 GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; vic. of Talas, Talas River ; 42°31 ’00” N, 72°14 ’00” E; 1280 m a.s.l.; 16 Jun. 2000; Pak O. leg.; flood-plane forest; SIZK GoogleMaps . - TAJIKISTAN • 1 ♂; Zeravshan Mountain, Marguzorskie Lakes, Padrut settlement; 39°10 ’09” N, 67°50 ’14” E; 2100 m a.s.l.; 29 Jun. 1987; Zaitsev V. leg.; SZMN GoogleMaps . - UZBEKISTAN • 1 ♀; Tashkent Region, Bostanlik District, Chimgan ; 41°30 ’58” N, 70°01 ’44” E; 1820 m a.s.l.; 12 May 2008; Selin A. leg.; MZH G0932 GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; Tashkent Region, Bostanlik District, Chimgan , 85 km NE of Tashkent; 41°43 ’18” N, 70°07 ’39” E; 1700-2000 m a.s.l.; 9 Jun. 1982; Chvála M. leg.; NMPC 18247 GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis.

Medium sized to large (9-13 mm), long pilose, dark species with olive-brown reflection (Fig. 19D View Figure 19 ); antennae dark brown to reddish-brown, basoflagellomere elongated, about 2.5 times as long as wide (Figs 10E View Figure 10 , 12C View Figure 12 ); tibiae and tarsi partly reddish-yellow (Figs 15D View Figure 15 , 17C View Figure 17 ); body pile pale yellow to gray; sterna with short white pilosity, except sternum 2 with medial patch of long whitish pile (Fig. 35A, B View Figure 35 ). Male: metafemur about 3.5 times longer than wide, covered with long whitish pilosity (Fig. 15D View Figure 15 ); basotarsomere of metatarsus expanded, about 3 times broader than the second tarsomere (Fig. 6A, B View Figure 6 ), ventrally with well-defined brush-like area of dense pile extended for about 2/3 of its length (Fig. 6A, B View Figure 6 ); ventral margin of metatrochanter strongly angular; sternum 4 with very elongated laminate extensions on posterior margin (Fig. 5E View Figure 5 ); male genitalia: anterior surstyle lobe rectangular, while posterior surstyle lobe oval to triangular (since intraspecific variability), with angular ventral margin (Fig. 24A, C View Figure 24 : al, pl); ejaculatory apodeme large, broader than long (Fig. 25A View Figure 25 : ea); lingula very elongated and narrow (Fig. 25A View Figure 25 : l). Female: tarsi yellow to reddish (Fig. 17C View Figure 17 ).

Similar to Merodon tarsatus from which differs in sternum 2 with medial patch of long white pile (Fig. 35A, B View Figure 35 ), while pile are uniformly distributed on sternum 2 in M. tarsatus (Fig. 35C View Figure 35 ); by partly reddish-yellow tibiae and tarsi (usually black in M. tarsatus ); by longer basoflagellomere, more than 2.5 times as long as wide in M. smirnovi (Fig. 10E View Figure 10 ), while less than 2.4 times as long as wide in M. tarsatus (Fig. 11F View Figure 11 ); in male basotarsomere of metaleg with ventral area of strong setae extends on about 2/3 (Fig. 6A, B View Figure 6 ), while in M. tarsatus on 3/4 (Fig. 6L View Figure 6 ); and by male genitalia: angular ventral margin of posterior surstyle lobe in M. smirnovi (Fig. 24A, C View Figure 24 : pl), while ventral margin of posterior surstyle lobe oval in M. tarsatus (Fig. 1A, C, D View Figure 1 : pl). Differs from male of M. namaghijamii Vujić, Likov & Radenković sp. nov. by holoptic eyes, eye contiguity more than 6 facets long in M. smirnovi (Fig. 30F View Figure 30 ), while in M. namaghijamii Vujić, Likov & Radenković sp. nov. eyes dichoptic (Fig. 31G View Figure 31 ); by partly reddish-yellow tarsi, black in M. namaghijamii Vujić, Likov & Radenković sp. nov.; and by different shape of posterior surstyle lobe (Fig. 24A, C View Figure 24 : pl, 1G: pl). Similar to M. pakistanicus Vujić, Likov & Radenković sp. nov., but male differ by strongly incrassate basotarsomere of metaleg (Fig. 6A, B View Figure 6 ), while is less incrassate in M. pakistanicus Vujić, Likov & Radenković sp. nov. (Fig. 9D View Figure 9 ); and by different shape of male genitalia (Figs 24A-C View Figure 24 , 25A View Figure 25 ). Differs from M. turkestanicus by the shape of posterior surstyle lobe (Figs 1E View Figure 1 : pl, 24A, C: pl); by eye contiguity more than 10 facets long (Fig. 30F View Figure 30 ) in male, while in M. turkestanicus eyes dichoptic or shortly connected by distance of 1-5 facets long (Fig. 31E, F View Figure 31 ).

Re-description.

Male. Head: Antenna dark brown to reddish-brown; basoflagellomere (Fig. 10E View Figure 10 ) elongated about 2.5 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. 10E View Figure 10 ); arista dark and thickened at basal third; face and frons black to dark blue with gray microtrichia; face covered with dense whitish pile, frons with gray-yellowish pile; oral margin with sparse microtrichia; lunule shiny brown, bare; eye contiguity about 6-14 facets long (Fig. 30F View Figure 30 ); vertex isosceles, shiny black; vertex with long, pale yellow-whitish pile, in some cases mixed with a few black pile on ocellar triangle; ocellar triangle equilateral; occiput with gray-yellow pile, ventrally covered with dense gray microtrichia; eyes covered with dense whitish-gray pile (Fig. 30F View Figure 30 ); vertical triangle: eye contiguity: frons = 2.5: 1: 1.5-2. - Thorax: Scutum and scutellum black with olive-green to brown lustre, covered with dense, erect, yellow pile; scutum 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 entirely 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 strongly angular; metafemur broad, about 3.5 times longer than wide, with long pile on ventral surface, about as wide as metafemur, longer than pile on dorsal surface (Fig. 15D 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 (Figs 6A, B View Figure 6 , 15D View Figure 15 ), ventrally with well-defined brush-like area of dense pile extended for about 2/3 of its length (Fig. 6A, B View Figure 6 ). - Abdomen: About 1.3 times longer than mesonotum; terga dark brown to black; terga 2-4 each with pair of narrow, white pollinose fasciae; pile on terga all yellow to gray-whitish (Fig. 19D View Figure 19 ); sterna dark brown, covered with short whitish-yellow pile, except sternum 2 with medial patch of long white pile (Fig. 35A View Figure 35 ). - Male genitalia: Anterior surstyle lobe rectangular, about 1.5 times longer than wide, covered with dense short pile (Fig. 24A, C View Figure 24 : al); posterior surstyle lobe oval to triangular, with angular ventral margin (Fig. 24A, C View Figure 24 : pl); cercus rectangular (Fig. 24A View Figure 24 : c); hypandrium sickle-shaped, without lateral projections; ejaculatory apodeme large, broader than long (Fig. 25A View Figure 25 : ea); lingula very elongated and narrow (Fig. 25A View Figure 25 : l). - Female. Similar to male except for normal sexual dimorphism and following characteristics: basoflagellomere with slightly rounded apex, about 2.7 times longer than wide (Fig. 12C View Figure 12 ); frons with pollinose vittae along eye margins; 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 2-4 usually with short adpressed black pile in some specimens; pollinose fasciae on terga 2-4 distinct; basotarsomere of metatarsus less expanded, ventrally without well-defined brush-like area of dense pile and without distinct spine-like setae within ventrolateral row of setae (Fig. 6C-F View Figure 6 ); sternum 2 with sparse medial patch of long pile (Fig. 35B View Figure 35 ).

Distribution and ecological data.

Merodon smirnovi occurs in Kyrgyzstan, southeastern Kazakhstan, northeastern Uzbekistan (near borders with Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan) and western Tajikistan (Fig. 26 View Figure 26 ). Its localities are within four ecoregions: Tian Shan foothill arid steppe, Tian Shan montane steppe and meadows, Central Asian northern desert, and Gissaro-Alai open woodlands ( Olson et al. 2001). The latter ecoregion includes localities in Uzbekistan within the tau (mid-mountain) zone distinguished by the dominance of Juniperus forests and presence of deciduous forests, and within the upper adyr (lowlands and foothills) zone characterized by the ephemeroid vegetation, dry forb steppes, and shrub communities ( Sennikov et al. 2016). A variety of landscapes of Gissaro-Alai open woodlands in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan range from foothill semideserts and sage deserts ( Artemisia spp.) to alpine meadows; the steppe grasses grow alongside wild fruit and nut forests, and at the higher altitudes a mosaic of Juniperus forests forms the montane belt. Many geophytes (e.g., Allium , Iris , Tulipa , Eremurus ) are present. The valleys of mountain rivers house riparian forests. Tian Shan foothill arid steppe and montane steppe and meadows vegetation in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan includes Artemisia spp. steppe, dry sparse Stipa spp. and Festuca spp. grassland, Kobresia spp. meadows in the alpine zone, intermixed with Picea spp. forest stands in the subalpine zone ( WWF 2022). Semidesert ecosystems of southern Kazakhstan (and true deserts further south) are characterized by Artemisia spp.; Calligonum L. and Astragalus L. are widespread. In the West Tien-Shan, there are characteristic mountain riparian forests, xerophile woodlands, spruce forests, Juniper forests and wild fruit and nut forests. Tall-forb vegetation of the localities of M. smirnovi 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). Ferula sp. ( Apiaceae ) was noted as a flower visited by the adults of M. smirnovi in Kazakhstan (Fig. 36 View Figure 36 ). On the basis of our data the flight period is from April to July.

Remarks.

Original description was based on two syntypes from Uzbekistan ( Paramonov 1927). Type material studied. Merodon Merodon was revised by Hurkmans (1993) without examination of types and he proposed synonymy with Merodon M. . We established an independent position of this taxon and revised its status from Hurkmans (1993) and confirmed the validity of the species.