Merodon nanus

Vujić, Ante, Radenković, Snežana, Ačanski, Jelena, Grković, Ana, Taylor, Mike, Şenol, Serdar Gökhan & Hayat, Rüstem, 2015, Revision of the species of the Merodon nanus group (Diptera: Syrphidae) including three new species, Zootaxa 4006 (3), pp. 439-462 : 452

Key for species of M. nanus group (males)

1 All tarsi pale ( Fig. 4 C) (if darker, always uniformly coloured; with the exception of some specimens from Mugla mountain, Turkey). Male genitalia: hypandrium with strongly pointed, sharp apex ( Figs. 7 D, 11B)............... Merodon telmateia

- At least apical two tarsomeres brown or dark dorsally (as on Fig. 4 D). Male genitalia: hypandrium with rounded or slightly pointed apex ( Figs. 5 B, 6B, 8C, 9B)...................................................................... 2

2 Hind trochanter without such patch. Aedeagal box elongated ( Figs. 10 C–10E), from 2 to 3 times shorter than the length of hypandrium ( Figs. 4 B, 8B, 9B:ab); inner processes of hypandrium settled in apical 1/4 ( Figs. 5 B, 9B); ventral margin of posterior lobe of surstylus moderately convex or almost straight ( Figs. 5 A, 9A)....................................... 4

- Hind trochanter with a patch of short thick orange pile. Aedeagal box short and broad ( Fig. 12 A, 12B), at least 4 times shorter than the length of the hypandrium ( Figs. 6 B, 8C: ab); inner processes of hypandrium settled in apical 1/2.5–3 ( Figs. 6 B, 8C: ih); ventral margin of posterior lobe of surstylus strongly convex ( Figs. 6 , 8 )..................................... 3

3 Posterior lobe of surstylus very large, more than 2 times longer than cercus ( Fig. 8 A). Inner edge of apical part of hypandrium S-shaped, strongly sclerotized ( Fig. 7 A: x); aedeagal apodeme attached to the theca before the middle of dorsal margin ( Fig. 8 C: n).......................................................................... Merodon neonanus sp. n.

- Posterior lobe of surstylus smaller, less than 2 times longer than cercus ( Fig. 6 A). Inner edge of apical part of hypandrium straight, unsclerotized ( Fig. 7 B: x); aedeagal apodeme attached to the theca in the middle of dorsal margin ( Fig. 6 B: n)...................................................................................... Merodon kopensis sp. n.

4 Distal end of aedeagal box strongly bifurcated in ventral view ( Fig. 5 C). Tip of posterior lobe of surstyle rounded, directed anteriorly, with convex posterior margin ( Fig. 5 A)............................................... Merodon nanus

- Distal end of aedeagal box without strong lateral processes in ventral view ( Fig. 5 D). Tip of posterior lobe of surstyle triangular, more narrow, with straight posterior margin ( Fig. 9 A)................................... Merodon rasicus sp. n.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Merodon nanus, hind leg, lateral view; A. male; B. female. Tarsi of the hind leg of female, dorsal view; C. M. telmateia; D. M. nanus. Dotted areas indicate darkly pigmented cuticle.

FIGURE 5. Male genitalia. A – C. Merodon nanus; D. M. rasicus sp. n. A. Epandrium, lateral view; B. hypandrium, lateral view; C – D. distal end of the aedeagus, ventral view; ps – posterior surstyle lobe; c – cercus; ih – inner processes of the hypandrium; ab – aedeagal box; n – notch on theca to which is attached the aedeagal apodeme; e – ejaculatory apodeme.

FIGURE 6. Male genitalia of Merodon kopensis sp. n., lateral view. A. epandrium; B. hypandrium; ab—aedeagal box; nnotch on theca to which is attached the aedeagal apodeme; ih—inner processes of the hypandrium.

FIGURE 7. Apical part of hypandrium, anterior view. A. Merodon neonanus sp. n.; B. M. kopensis sp. n.; C. M. rasicus sp. n.; D. M. telmateia; x—inner edge of the apical part of the hypandrium; ih—inner processes of the hypandrium.

FIGURE 8. Male genitalia of Merodon neonanus sp. n. A – B. epandrium, lateral view; C. hypandrium, lateral view; D. distal end of aedeagus, ventral view; A—Greece; B—FRY of Macedonia; ab—aedeagal box; n—notch on theca to which is attached the aedeagal apodeme; ih—inner processes of the hypandrium.

FIGURE 9. Male genitalia of Merodon rasicus sp. n., lateral view. A. epandrium; B. hypandrium; ab—aedeagal box; n—notch on theca to which is attached the aedeagal apodeme; ih—inner processes of the hypandrium.

FIGURE 10. Aedeagal box of Merodon rasicus sp. n. A – L. ventral view; A – F. lateral view; G – L. Turkey, Hakkari: A, G. Iran, Fars Darab: B, H. Greece, Kavala: C, I. Turkey, Mardin: D, J. Serbia, Kopaonik: E, K. “ Poland ”: F, L.

FIGURE 12. Aedeagus with accessory structures, lateral view. A. Merodon kopensis sp. n.; B. M. neonanus sp. n.; C. M. nanus; D. M. rasicus sp. n.; E. M. telmateia.