Revision of the Palaearctic species of the Merodon desuturinus group (Diptera, Syrphidae)

Zookeys. 2018 Jul 5:(771):105-138. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.771.20481. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

This revision of material belonging to the Merodon desuturinus group from the Palaearctic Region resulted in the delimitation of four species: Merodon cabanerensis Marcos-García, Vujić & Mengual, 2007; Merodon desuturinus Vujić, Šimić & Radenković, 1995; Merodon neolydicus Vujić, nom. n.; and Merodon murorum Fabricius, 1794. Merodon murorum is redescribed. A neotype for Merodon auripilus Meigen, 1830 is designated, which is a new junior synonym of Merodon murorum. The related Afrotropical species Merodon cuthbertsoni Curran, 1939 is re-evaluated and compared to its sibling Palaearctic taxon Merodon desuturinus. An identification key for the Merodon desuturinus group is provided.

Keywords: Merodon auripilus; Merodon cuthbertsoni; Merodon murorum; Merodon neolydicus nom. n..