Revision of the Merodon bombiformis group (Diptera: Syrphidae) - rare and endemic African hoverflies
Author
Vujić, Ante
E80A5C9B-5450-4E15-ACEB-FC3B94CF2244
0000-0002-8819-8079
University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
ante.vujic@dbe.uns.ac.rs
Author
Radenković, Snežana
26DF35D9-55FA-4485-8E8C-C1F90EFE1036
0000-0002-7805-9614
University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
snezana.radenkovic@dbe.uns.ac.rs
Author
Zorić, Ljiljana Šašić
A0EFB962-F816-4399-A5F2-67839DD19CE8
0000-0003-1616-2701
University of Novi Sad, BioSense Institute, Dr Zorana Ðinđića 1, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
ljsasic@biosense.rs
Author
Likov, Laura
6787F9E8-3EA9-4695-B8A1-725787BCB9DD
0000-0002-7215-1006
University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
laura.likov@dbe.uns.ac.rs
Author
Tot, Tamara
E4436AC7-B3B6-4899-838D-5A6ECD8E6BFB
0000-0001-8776-9362
University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
tamaratot90@gmail.com
Author
Veselić, Sanja
625C1317-F45B-46E8-B55E-51032B1F7C67
0000-0002-7613-8052
University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
sanja.veselic@dbe.uns.ac.rs
Author
Djan, Mihajla
BE29D9A9-CC69-416C-8F85-4B8AA99A6C71
0000-0002-2427-0676
University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
mihajla.djan@dbe.uns.ac.rs
text
European Journal of Taxonomy
2021
2021-06-21
755
1
88
135
http://dx.doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2021.755.1401
journal article
10.5852/ejt.2021.755.1401
fc3a8901-c995-49e0-b8b5-6ec0c9727de4
2118-9773
5013000
F8C5C34F-CCBB-420B-9319-1DA224A5D783
Merodon multifasciatus
Curran, 1939
Figs 1
,
4B
,
5B
,
6B
,
9B
,
10B
,
11B
,
12B
,
13D–F
,
14B
,
15B
,
16B
,
18B
,
21F–H
,
25
Merodon multifasciatus
Curran, 1939: 8
(
type
locality: Johannesburg,
Republic of South Africa
).
Merodon apimima
Hull, 1944: 40–42
(
type
locality:
Mulanje
,
Nyasaland
,
Republic of Malawi
).
Diagnosis
Large (
10–12 mm
) and dark, striped species, with golden-yellow pile on the tip of the abdomen (
Figs 5B
,
14B
). Scutum with conspicuous pollinose vittae (
Figs 10B
,
14B
); metafemur with distinct apical dens on triangular lamina (
Figs 6B
,
16B
); terga 3 and 4 with broad medial pollinose fasciae (
Figs 5B
,
14B
). Similar to
M. vittatus
Vujić & Likov
sp. nov.
from which differs in male genitalia with wider posterior lobe of surstyle, slightly curved, almost parallel sided, with rounded apex (
Fig. 13D
: pl), while male genitalia in
M. vittatus
sp. nov.
with longer and narrower, S-shaped posterior lobe of surstyle, gradually narrowing toward tip (
Fig. 7D
: pl).
Material examined
Holotype
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
•
1 ♀
;
Johannesburg
;
26.284° S
,
27.982° E
;
6000 ft
;
Mar. 1899
;
J.P. Cregoe
leg.;
AMNH
.
Additional material
REPUBLIC OF MALAWI
•
1 ♂
, holotype of
Merodon apimima
;
Mulanje
,
Nyasaland
;
16.015° S
,
35.521° E
;
22 Apr. 1913
;
S.A. Neave
leg.;
BMNH
•
1 ♀
, paratype of
Merodon apimima
; same collection data as for preceding;
21 Oct. 1913
; labelled as allotype;
BMNH
•
2 ♂♂
, paratypes of
Merodon apimima
; same collection data as for preceding;
18–30 Apr. 1913
;
BMNH
•
1 ♂
, paratype of
Merodon apimima
; same collection data as for preceding;
FSUNS ID 04086
;
NBCN
•
2 ♂♂
, paratypes of
Merodon apimima
; same collection data as for preceding;
2 Jun. 1913
;
BMNH
•
1 ♀
, paratype of
Merodon apimima
; same collection data as for preceding;
FSUNS ID 04355
;
BMNH
.
Additional non
type
material
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
•
1 ♂
;
Lualaba River
;
7.023° S
,
27.046° E
;
2500– 4000 ft
;
21 Apr. 1907
;
S.A. Neave
leg.;
FSUNS ID 03909
;
NBCN LML-05-3
.
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
•
1 ♂
;
Modimolle
(former Nylstroom);
24.683° S
,
28.416° E
;
17 Feb. 1908
; unknown leg.; reared from
Gladiolus
bulb;
USNM
•
1 ♂
;
Transvaal
,
5 mi
(
8 km
)
W of Warmbad
;
24–25 Feb. 1968
;
K.V. Krombein
leg.;
FSUNS ID 04512
;
USNM ENT 00036564
,
USNM 2052372
•
1 ♂
;
Transvaal
,
Fortuna Trail
,
S of Barberton
, N slope;
26.009° S
,
31.048° E
;
8 Apr. 1985
;
J.G.H. Londt
leg.; bushveld;
FSUNS ID 04284
;
NMSA
•
1 ♀
;
Mpumalanga
,
Emgwenya
(
Waterval Boven
), near
Elandsrivier
;
25.634° S
,
30.326° E
;
6 Apr. 2018
;
Sanja Vujić
leg.;
FSUNS ZA5_242
;
FSUNS
•
1 ♀
; same collection data as for preceding;
L,S. Forcada
leg.;
FSUNS ZA5_243
;
FSUNS
.
Redescription
Original descriptions are insufficient, without any illustrations and based on a single female from
South Africa
(
Curran 1939
) and male and female
types
(
Hull 1944
).
Fig. 9.
Male head, lateral view.
A
.
Merodon bombiformis
Hull, 1944
(FSUNS; FSUNS ZA2_079).
B
.
M. multifasciatus
Curran, 1939
(USNM 2052372; FSUNS ID 04512).
C
.
M. vittatus
Vujić & Likov
sp. nov.
, holotype (NBCN; FSUNS ID 04085).
D
.
M. zebra
Vujić & Radenković
sp. nov.
, holotype (RMCA; FSUNS ID 25089).
E
.
M. lotus
Vujić & Radenković
sp. nov.
, paratype (FSUNS; FSUNS ID ZA6_066).
F
.
M. nasicus
Bezzi, 1915
(TAUI; FSUNS ID 04972). Scale bar = 2 mm.
Fig. 10.
Mesonotum, dorsal view.
A
.
Merodon bombiformis
Hull, 1944
(FSUNS; FSUNS ZA2_079).
B
.
M. multifasciatus
Curran, 1939
(FSUNS; FSUNS ID ZA5_243).
C
.
M. vittatus
Vujić & Likov
sp. nov.
, holotype (NBCN; FSUNS ID 04085).
D
.
M. zebra
Vujić & Radenković
sp. nov.
, paratype (RMCA; FSUNS ID 25090).
E
.
M. lotus
Vujić & Radenković
sp. nov.
, paratype (FSUNS; FSUNS ID ZA6_066).
F
.
M. nasicus
Bezzi, 1915
(TAUI; FSUNS ID 04972).
A, C, E-F
. Male.
B, D
. Female. Scale bar = 2 mm.
Fig. 11.
Male head, frontal view.
A
.
Merodon bombiformis
Hull, 1944
(FSUNS; FSUNS ZA2_079).
B
.
M. multifasciatus
Curran, 1939
(USNM 2052372; FSUNS ID 04512).
C
.
M. vittatus
Vujić & Likov
sp. nov.
, holotype (NBCN; FSUNS ID 04085).
D
.
M. zebra
Vujić & Radenković
sp. nov.
, holotype (RMCA; FSUNS ID 25089).
E
.
M. lotus
Vujić & Radenković
sp. nov.
, paratype (FSUNS; FSUNS ID ZA6_066).
F
.
M. nasicus
Bezzi, 1915
(TAUI; FSUNS ID 04972). Scale bar = 2 mm.
Length: large species, body
10–12 mm
, wing
8–9 mm
(n = 5).
Male
HEAD (
Figs 4B
,
9B
,
11B
,
12B
). Antenna (
Fig. 4B
) reddish-brown; pedicel elongated, approximately as long as basoflagellomere (relation scape:pedicel: basoflagellomere =1.0: 2.5: 2.5); basoflagellomere concave dorsally, with acute apex; arista light brown to dark brown, thickened basally, 1.6 times as long as basoflagellomere. Face from black to dark brown, covered with gray pollinosity and whitish pile, except on bare medial vitta that occupies ¼ width of face. Oral margin protruded (
Fig. 9B
). Frons from black to reddish, inflated, covered with gray pollinosity and whitish pile. Vertical triangle and isosceles (
Fig. 12B
), usually dark brown, predominantly covered with a long, yellow pile. Ocellar triangle equilateral. Eye pile dense, gray, slightly longer than scape. Eye contiguity about 15–18 ommatidia long. Occiput reddish, pollinose, covered with yellow pile.
THORAX (
Figs 6B
,
10B
). Mesonotum black, except postpronotum and posterior margin of scutellum brown-reddish, covered with reddish-yellow pile; scutum with five pollinose longitudinal vittae (as on
Fig. 10B
). Pleuron black to dark brown, covered with gray pollinosity and the following parts with whitish to yellow pile: anterior part of proepimeron, posterior part of anterior anepisternum, most of the posterior anepisternum except anterior end, antero-ventral and postero-dorsal part of katepisternum, anepimeron, and metasternum. Wing hyaline, with dense microtrichia and yellow to brown veins. Calypter pale yellow. Halter with yellow pedicel and capitulum. All three femora dark brown to black; tibiae mostly reddish, medially black to dark brown; tarsi reddish (
Fig. 6B
). Metatrochanter without calcar. Metafemur moderately thickened, with less developed apicoventral triangular lamina, more or less dentate, the apical dens is distinct (
Fig. 6B
). Pile on legs predominantly whitish to yellow.
ABDOMEN (
Fig. 5B
). Black to dark brown. Tergum 1 black, usually pollinosed, covered with short whitish to yellow pile; tergum 2 with pollinose posterior margin and narrow medial fascia (in some specimens interrupted in the middle) covered with whitish pile except posterior half of tergum (between pollinose fasciae) covered with short black pilosity; terga 3 and 4 with pollinose posterior margin and broad medial pollinose fasciae (
Fig. 5B
); anterior half of tergum 3 covered with short black pile; tergum 4 covered with long golden-yellow pilosity (
Fig. 5B
). Sterna reddish-brown, covered with white or yellow pile.
GENITALIA (
Figs 13D–F
,
18B
). Posterior lobe of surstyle broad, slightly curved, almost parallel sided, with rounded apex (
Fig. 13D
: pl); anterior lobe of surstyle undeveloped (
Fig. 13D
); anterior margin of surstyle angular in lateral view (
Fig. 13D
: ams); cercus square like (
Fig. 13D
: c). Hypandrium with theca medially distinctly narrowed (
Fig. 13F
). Lateral sclerite of aedeagus small (
Fig. 18B
: s).
Female
(
Figs 10B
,
14B
,
15B
,
16B
)
Similar to the male except for normal sexual dimorphism: metafemur usually with small apical dens on triangular lamina (
Fig. 16B
); frons with non pollinose medial vitta (
Fig. 15B
); vertex predominantly covered with black pile.
Remarks
Hull (1944)
described
Merodon apimima
“related to
multifasciatus
Curran
in
type
of femoral armament and abdominal fascia; distinct in the black front, yellow pilose vertex and, brown humeri, absence of red on second abdominal segment, beside other details of pattern” based on
six males
and
one female
. All these characters mentioned in original description can be regarded as intraspecific variability of
M. multifasciatus
.
Based on our study of the
type
material of both species, we regard
M. apimima
as a junior synonym of
M. multifasciatus
.
Fig. 12.
Male head, dorsal view.
A
.
Merodon bombiformis
Hull, 1944
(FSUNS; FSUNS ZA2_079).
B
.
M. multifasciatus
Curran, 1939
(USNM 2052372; FSUNS ID 04512).
C
.
M. vittatus
Vujić & Likov
sp. nov.
, holotype (NBCN; FSUNS ID 04085).
D
.
M. zebra
Vujić & Radenković
sp. nov.
, holotype (RMCA; FSUNS ID 25089).
E
.
M. lotus
Vujić & Radenković
sp. nov.
, paratype (FSUNS; FSUNS ID ZA6_066).
F
.
M. nasicus
Bezzi, 1915
(TAUI; FSUNS ID 04972). Scale bar = 2 mm.
In the original description of species,
Hull (1944)
did not state the etymology of the species name, so we cannot conclude whether he treated “
apimima
” as a noun or an adjective. According to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (Article 31.2.2) (
International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature 1999
) if the author does not indicate whether the species name is a noun or an adjective, as in this case, it has to be treated as a noun. When the species name is a noun simple or compound, in apposition, it does not need to agree in gender with the generic name, therefore the original spelling has to be retained (Article 34.2.1). In some references (
Smith & Vockeroth 1980
; Dirickx 1988)
M
.
apimimus
is used because authors considered “
apimima
” to be an adjective. But in Systema Dipterorum (
Evenhuis & Pape 2020
), which is the most comprehensive database related to the
Syrphidae
, the original spelling of
M. apimima
is applied.
Period of flight and distribution
(
Fig. 1
)
This species occurs in
Malawi
, the
Republic of South Africa
and the
Democratic Republic of Congo
. On the basis of our data, the flight period was found to be throughout the whole year.
Merodon multifasciatus
was found in deciduous forest-woodland savanna and brush-grass savanna.
Fig. 13.
Male genitalia.
A–C
.
Merodon bombiformis
Hull, 1944
(NMSA; FSUNS ID 04277).
D–F
.
M. multifasciatus
Curran, 1939
(NMSA; FSUNS ID 04284).
A, D
. Epandrium, lateral view.
B, E
. Epandrium, ventral view.
C, F
. Hypandrium, lateral view. Abbreviations: ams = anterior margin of surstyle; c = cercus; pl = posterior lobe of surstyle. Medially narrowed hypandrium marked with arrow. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.
Larval biology
The material from Nylstroom (
17 Feb. 1908
) was bred from bulbs of
Gladiolus
(immature stages undescribed). Specimens collected in Emgwenya (Waterval Boven) (
6 Apr. 2018
) were found on flowers of different plant species inside a small spot (20 ×
40 m
) with the natural population of
Gladiolus sericeovillosus
Hook.
, along a small periodical spring. It is a strong indication that this plant is the primary host for larvae of
M. multifasciatus
.
Flower visited
During our fileldwork, adults of
M. multifasciatus
were observed visiting flowers of
Nidorella auriculata
DC.
in Emgwenya (Waterval Boven) (
Fig. 26
).