Cheilosia (Cheilosia) pagana (Meigen, 1822)

Fig. 52

Syrphus paganus Meigen, 1822: 292 .

Cheilosia pagana – Stackelberg & Richter 1968: 247. — Peck 1988: 112. — Barkalov 1993: 712. — Gujabidze 2002: 246. — Barkalov & Mutin 2018: 483. — Mengual et al. 2020: 19.

Differential diagnosis

Cheilosia pagana is a small (5–9 mm) and slender species. It is characterized by the bare face, narrow parafacia, bare eye, lunule with distinct medial arm, bicoloured legs, posterior margin of scutellum with setae and shiny sterna. The female stands out amongst those of similar looking species by possessing a very large, bright orange postpedicel (Fig. 52D).

Material examined

Collected in 2018, 2019 and 2023, but 2018 records were not published in Mengual et al. (2020) We report here all the records.

GEORGIA – Adjara Region • 1 ♀; Kintrishi Nature Reserve; 41.7433° N, 42.0840° E; 1235 m a.s.l.; 27 Jul.–10 Aug. 2018; GGBC-members leg; ZFMK, ZFMK-TIS-8010465 . – Kakheti • 1 ♀; Lagodekhi N.P.; 41.8767° N, 46.2429° E; 615 m a.s.l.; 2 May 2023; S. Bot leg.; SBA, SB.002716 . – Mtskheta-Mtianeti • 1 ♀; Tbilisi N.P.; 41.880° N, 45.023° E; 1289 m a.s.l.; 4 May 2023; S. Bot leg.; SBA, SB.002717 • 1 ♀; Tbilisi N.P.; 41.877° N, 45.0138° E; 1250 m a.s.l.; 4 May 2023; F. Van de Meutter leg.; FMT • 2 ♂♂; Lutkhubi; 42.3951° N, 44.7847° E; 2138 m a.s.l.; 6 May 2023; F. Van de Meutter leg.; FMT • 1 ♂; Lutkhubi; 42.3867° N, 44.79° E; 1580 m a.s.l.; 6 May 2023; F. Van de Meutter leg.; FMT . – Samtskhe-Javakheti • 1 ♀; Borjomi; 41.96° N, 43.56° E; 700–750 m a.s.l.; 8 Jun. 2019; J. van Steenis leg.; JSB, 2019-00.837 • 1 ♀; Borjomi; 41.7772° N, 42.8372° E; 1368 m a.s.l.; 10–11 Jun. 2019; X. Mengual leg.; Malaise trap; ZFMK, ZFMK-TIS-8010114 • 1 ♂; Tbilisi National Park; 41.8808° N, 45.0204° E; 1270 m a.s.l.; 22 Jun. 2019; X. Mengual leg.; ZFMK, ZFMK-DIP-00066199 = ZFMK-TIS-8006806 .

Genetics

DNA barcodes of C. pagana from several Holarctic localities, including Caucasus specimens, cluster together with high support (BS = 100%).

Biology

During our expeditions, collected between 2 May and 10 August at an altitude between 615 and 2138 m a.s.l. Males were found hovering at a hilltop at 2138 m a.s.l.

Distribution

Palaearctic. Within the Caucasus reported from Georgia and Russia.