Merodon sublustris Likov, Vujic & Radenkovic 2025, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Likov, Laura
name: Vujić, Ante
name: Radenković, Snežana
name: Zorić, Ljiljana Šašić
name: Djan, Mihajla
name: Jordaens, Kurt
name: Mudri-Stojnić, Sonja
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Syrphidae
Merodon
Merodon sublustris

description: Merodon sublustris Likov, Vujić & Radenković, sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 7F418A9F-36D6-4EF1-9FCD-9D8680B98FE1
Figs 8, 9A–B, D, 10–11, 12A
Diagnosis
Dark species with broad abdomen. The oral margin slightly notched. Basoflagellomere short, 1–1.2 times as long as wide (Fig. 9D). Legs mostly dark, except for pale apex of femora and paler bases and apexes of tibiae. Metafemur with weakly developed apical triangular process, with distinct apical thorn (Fig. 10A–B). Terga mostly black, terga 2 and 3 each sometimes with small reddish lateral fasciae or maculae,with a transverse pair of distinct, narrow microtrichose fasciate maculae on terga 2–4 which are approx. ⅙ to ⅛ of tergal length (Fig. 10C–D). Males: eye contiguity 5–12 facets long (Fig. 9A). Male genitalia with smooth thecal ridge, posterior surstylar lobe with parallel margins (Fig. 11A: pl).
Etymology
Latin adjective ‘ sublustris ’ (faintly lit, dim) referring to predominantly dull and pollinose scutum and frons.
Type material
Holotype
IRAN • ♂; Fars Province, 15 km S of Dasht Arjan; 29°33ʹ8.57ʺ N 51°56ʹ22.22ʺ E; 2261 m a.s.l.; 2–6 May 2016; Martin Obořil leg.; FSUNS 18285; MMBC.
Paratypes
IRAN • 2 ♂♂; FSUNS 18287, 18283 • 2 ♀♀; Fars Province, 15 km S of Dasht Arjan; 29°33ʹ8.57ʺ N 51°56ʹ22.22ʺ E; 2261 m a.s.l.; 2–6 May 2016; Martin Obořil leg.; FSUNS 18288, 18292; FSUNS • 2 ♂♂; FSUNS 18284, 18286 • 2 ♀♀; same collecting data as for preceding; FSUNS 18291, 18289; MMBC • 1 ♀; Fars Province, Dasht Arjan; 29°33ʹ7.2ʺ N 51°56ʹ31.2ʺ E; 2260 m a.s.l.; 5 May 2016; M. Kafka leg.; FSUNS 68223; FSUNS • 3 ♂♂; FSUNS 68230, 68226, 68227 • 2 ♀♀; same collecting data as for preceding; FSUNS 68224, 68225; coll. MB • 1 ♂; Fars Province, Dasht Arjan; 29°37ʹ48ʺ N 51°54ʹ43.199ʺ E; 2040 m a.s.l.; 5 May 2016; M. Kafka leg.; FSUNS 68228; FSUNS • 1 ♂; same collecting data as for preceding; FSUNS 68229; coll. MB • 1 ♂; locality unknown; 1 Apr. 1936; F. Brandt leg.; FSUNS 02608; MZH; published as Merodon neolydicus in Vujić et al. (2018).
Description
Male
HEAD (Fig. 9A, D). Antenna reddish to dark brown; basoflagellomere short, as long as broad, concave dorsally; arista light to dark brown, thickened basally, about 2 times as long as basoflagellomere; first and second segment of arista long and reddish. Face microtrichose and long whitish to yellow pilose, except on median bare vitta that occupies ¼ width of face. Frons black, microtrichose, whitish yellow pilose. Vertical triangle black and shiny, microtrichose, predominantly long whitish pilose, with a few black pile interspersed; ocellar triangle isosceles. Eyes densely whitish yellow pilose, as long as scape. Occiput whitish pilose, white microtrichose.
THORAX. Mesoscutum and scutellum black with bronze lustre, relatively long (as long as or a little longer than basoflagellomere), dense, erect whitish yellow pilose; three longitudinal microthichose vittae welldeveloped (Fig. 12A). Pleuron often covered with whitish microtrichia and the following parts long yellow pilose: posterior part of anterior anepisternum, posterior anepisternum (except anteroventral part), anepimeron, metasternum, and anterior, posterodorsal and posteroventral parts of katepisternum. Wing hyaline, with dense microtrichia and light brown to dark brown veins. Calypter yellow. Haltere with brown pedicel and yellow to brown capitulum. Legs mostly dark brown-black, except for paler apex of femora and paler bases and apexes of tibiae; colour of tarsi variable, at least partly yellow-brown. Metatrochanter lacks processes, short yellow pilose. Metafemur moderately thickened and straight, with small apical triangular process (Fig. 10A). Metatibia with inconspicuous apical, antero-ventral spur and indications of a postero-ventral spur. Pile on legs short, predominantly whitish, except for some short black pile on tarsi dorsally.
ABDOMEN (Fig. 10C). Black with bronze reflections, slightly tapering, as long as mesonotum. Tergite 1 microtrichose; terga 2–4 black, with more or less distinct transverse fasciae of white microtrichia interrupted in the middle (sometimes connected on tergum 4); terga 2–3 with pair of anterolateral orange maculae; pilosity on lateral sides of terga erect and whitish, adpressed on central parts; colour of pile white on mictrotichose transversal fasciae, and on terga 2 and 5; on terga 2–3 pilosity predominantly black medially. Sternum dark brown, long, pale yellow pilose.
GENITALIA. Posterior surstylar lobe broader basally, narrow apically, with parallel margins (Fig. 11A: pl); apical parts of anterior surstylar lobe long and bent inwards; median part of surstylus with two inner thorns (Fig. 11B); cercus elongated and broadened apically (Fig. 11A: c). Hypandrium with broad theca and smooth thecal ridge (Fig. 11C). Lateral sclerite of aedeagus narrow, gradually tapered, with the tip curved downwards (Fig. 11C: s).
Female
Similar to the male except for typical sexual dimorphism (Figs 9B, 10B, D).
Distribution
Registered only in Iran (Fig. 8).
Differential diagnosis
Merodon sublustris sp. nov. is morphologically most similar to M. neolydicus Vujić, 2018 from which it differs by the dull scutum with three clearly visible pollinose vittae medially (Fig. 12A: marked with arrows) (shiny and with indistinct narrow medial pollinose vittae in M. neolydicus (Fig. 12B)), the vertical triangle of the male, and frons of the female which are mostly pollinose (Fig. 9A–B), (mostly shiny in M. neolydicus (Fig. 9C)), and by distribution (M. sublustris sp. nov. is found only in Iran while M. neolydicus occurs in the Eastern Mediterranean).
Key to the species of the Merodon desuturinus lineage – males
1. Eyes holoptic (i.e. touching) (as on Fig. 13C) ................................................................................. 3
– Eyes dichoptic (i.e. separated or slightly touching) (as on Fig. 13A, D) ......................................... 2
2. Basoflagellomere elongated, 1.5 times as long as wide (Fig. 14A); male genitalia with posterior surstylar lobe very short, broad and triangular (Fig. 14C: pl) (Republic of South Africa) ................. ................................................................................................ Merodon flavocerus Hurkmans, 2018
– Basoflagellomere shorter, almost as long as wide (Fig. 14B); male genitalia with posterior surstylar lobe elongated and triangular (Fig. 14D: pl) (Balkan Peninsula: Serbia, Montenegro)...................... .................................................................. Merodon desuturinus Vujić, Šimić & Radenković, 1995
3. Oral margin reduced (Fig. 13B), microtrichose (central and southern Africa).................................... .................. Merodon planifacies subgroup (key published in separated paper, Vujić et al. in prep.)
– Oral margin notched, slightly produced forward (as on Fig. 3B) .................................................... 4
4. Male genitalia: hypandrium with folded thecal ridge (as on Fig. 15A: vr) ..................................... 5
– Male genitalia: hypandrium with smooth thecal ridge (as on Fig. 15B: vr) .................................... 7
5. Scutum with fascia of black pile between wing bases, or black pile around wing bases; male genitalia: ventral margin of surstylus (as on Fig. 15C: vms) and hypandrium slightly angular (as in Fig. 5C) (Republic of South Africa) ............................................................................................................... 6
– Scutum entirely with pale pile; male genitalia: ventral margin of surstylus (Fig. 15D: vms) and hypandrium distinctly angular (Fig. 15E: marked with arrow) (Zimbabwe) ...................................... .................................................................................................. Merodon cuthbertsoni Curran, 1939
6. Scutum with black pile around wing bases; inner thorn of surstyle medially very long and strong (Fig. 5B: it); fasciate maculae of microtrichia on terga 2–4 broader, about ⅕ of their length ............ ................................................................ Merodon spinolobus Vujić, Radenković & Likov sp. nov.
– Scutum with fascia of black pile between wing bases or black pile around wing bases; inner thorn on surstyle smaller (Fig. 6B: it); fasciate maculae of microtrichia on terga 2–4 narrow, less than ⅛ of their length ............................................................................ Merodon capensis Hurkmans, 2018
7. Male genitalia: posterior surstylar lobe with parallel margins in apical half (as on Fig. 16A: pl) .. 8
– Male genitalia: posterior surstylar lobe triangular (as on Fig. 18C: pl) or with hook-like apex (as on Fig. 18A: pl) ................................................................................................................................... 10
8. Small species (8–11 mm) with narrow abdomen (Fig. 16D); male genitalia: ventral margin of anterior surstylar lobe angular (Fig. 16A: al), distal prolongation on anterior surstylar lobe broad (Fig. 16B: dp); apical part of hypandrium narrow (Fig. 16C) (Western Mediterranean: central Spain) .............. ...................................................... Merodon cabanerensis Marcos-García, Vujić & Mengual, 2007
– Large species (10–13 mm) with broader abdomen (as on Fig. 17D); male genitalia: ventral margin of anterior surstylar lobe rounded (as on Fig. 17A: vms), distal prolongation on anterior surstylar lobe narrow and directed towards the central line of symmetry of epandrium (as on Fig. 17B: dp); apical part of hypandrium broad (as on Fig. 17C) ..................................................................................... 9
9. Scutum dull with three clearly visible pollinose vittae medially (Fig. 12A: marked with arrows); vertex mostly pollinose (Fig. 9A); (distribution: Iran) ....................................................................... .................................................................. Merodon sublustris Likov, Vujić & Radenković sp. nov.
– Scutum shiny (Fig. 12B) and with very indistinct narrow medial pollinose vittae; vertex mostly shiny (Fig. 9C); (distribution: Eastern Mediterranean) ................ Merodon neolydicus Vujić, 2018
10. Male genitalia: posterior surstylar lobe long and narrow (as on Fig. 18A: pl) ............................... 11
– Male genitalia: posterior surstylar lobe broad and triangular (as on Fig. 18C: pl) ........................ 12
11. Male genitalia: posterior surstylar lobe with small apical ridge (Fig. 18A: marked with arrow); anterior surstylar lobe evident, strongly protruded; theca of hypandrium in apical fourth broad with oval lateral lamellae and small lateral wings (Fig. 18B: both marked with arrow) (Republic of South Africa) ...................................................................... Merodon drakonis Vujić & Radenković, 2018
– Male genitalia: posterior surstylar lobe with apical globule (Fig. 19A: pl, ag); anterior surstylar lobe less evident (Fig. 19A: al); theca of hypandrium in apical fourth without lateral lamellae or lateral wings (Fig. 15B: t) (North Africa) ............................................ Merodon murorum Fabricius, 1794
12. Tergum 2 with orange lateral maculae; male genitalia: anterior surstylar lobe with almost straight ventral margin (Fig. 18C: al) and large inner thorn (Fig. 18C: it); theca of hypandrium narrow in apical quarter, without lateral lamellae or lateral wings (Fig. 18D) (Republic of South Africa) ....... .................................................................................................... Merodon melanocerus Bezzi, 1915
– Tergum 2 usually black; male genitalia with anterior surstylar lobe with convex ventral margin (Fig. 19B: al), theca of hypandrium in apical quarter broad with oval lateral lamellae (Fig. 19C: sl), and small lateral wings (Republic of South Africa) ............................................................................ .......................................................................... Merodon commutabilis Radenković & Vujić, 2018
Key to the species of the Merodon desuturinus lineage – females
Note: the female of Merodon cuthbertsoni is unknown, but most probably keys out with M. capensis; the female of Merodon spinolobus sp. nov. is unknown.
1. Oral margin reduced (as on Fig. 20A), covered by microtrichia (central and southern Africa) ......... .......................................................................................................... Merodon planifacies subgroup
– Oral margin evident, notched, shiny (as on Fig. 7A) ....................................................................... 2
2. Tergum 2 black or at least lateral sides dark (as on Fig. 21C) ......................................................... 3
– Tergum 2 with orange lateral maculae extending along lateral sides (as on Fig. 21A–B) .............. 6
3. Legs partly pale, at least at both ends of tibiae pro- and mesolegs, and the basal tarsomeres 1–2 of pro- and mesolegs; scutum with fascia of black pile between wing bases (Republic of South Africa) ....................................................................................... Merodon capensis Hurkmans, 2018
– Legs black, exceptionally tarsi of metalegs brown ventrally; pilosity of scutum variable, can be covered with pale or mixed black and pale pile .............................................................................. 4
4. Basoflagellomere elongated, 1.3 times as long as wide (Fig. 22E); terga 2–4 each with clear microtrichose fasciate maculae (Fig. 21D) (Republic of South Africa) ............................................. .......................................................................... Merodon commutabilis Radenković & Vujić, 2018
– Basoflagellomere shorter, almost as long as wide (as on Fig. 22B); terga 2–4 each without or with very narrow microtrichose fasciate maculae ................................................................................... 5
5. Distribution: Balkan Peninsula (Serbia, Montenegro) ........................................................................ .................................................................. Merodon desuturinus Vujić, Šimić & Radenković, 1995
– Distribution: Western Mediterranean (central Spain) ......................................................................... ...................................................... Merodon cabanerensis Marcos-García, Vujić & Mengual, 2007
6. Basoflagellomere elongated, more than 1.5 times as long as wide (as on Fig. 22A, C) .................. 7
– Basoflagellomere shorter, less than 1.5 times as long as wide (as on Fig. 22D) ............................. 8
7. Frons with very narrow microtrichose vittae along eye margins (Fig. 23A) (Republic of South Africa) .................................................................................... Merodon flavocerus Hurkmans, 2018
– Frons with broad lateral microtrichose vittae (Fig. 23B) (North Africa) ........................................... ................................................................................................... Merodon murorum Fabricius, 1794
8. Body pile very short (as on Fig. 21A); metatrochanter with sparse pale pile (as on Fig. 24A) (distribution: Palaearctic) ................................................................................................................. 9
– Body pile long (as on Fig. 24C); metatrochanter with patch of dense yellow pile (as on Fig. 24B); (distribution: Republic of South Africa) ........................................................................................ 10
9. Scutum dull, with three clearly visible pollinose vittae medially (as in male in Fig. 12A: marked with arrows); vertex and frons mostly pollinose (Fig. 9B); (distribution: Iran) ......................................... .................................................................. Merodon sublustris Likov, Vujić & Radenković sp. nov.
– Scutum shiny (as in male in Fig. 12B) and with indistinct narrow medial pollinose vittae; frons mostly shiny; (distribution: Eastern Mediterranean) .................... Merodon neolydicus Vujić, 2018
10. Frons shiny, almost without microtrichia; distance between posterior ocellus and upper eye corner larger than distance between posterior and anterior ocelli (Fig. 20B) (Republic of South Africa) .... ................................................................................................... Merodon melanocerus Bezzi, 1915
– Frons with broad lateral microtrichose vittae along eye margins; distance between posterior ocellus and upper eye corner less than distance between the posterior and anterior ocelli (Fig. 20C) (Republic of South Africa) ....................................................... Merodon drakonis Vujić & Radenković, 2018
Molecular analysis
The MP analysis yielded a strict consensus tree of four equally parsimonious trees (Fig. 25). The ML tree is depicted in Fig. 26. Based on both analyses, the planifacies and melanocerus species subgroups were resolved as monophyletic, while the murorum species group was not monophyletic. Within the melanocerus species subgroup, M. spinolobus sp. nov. is resolved as being closely related to (and for the MP analysis sister to) M. capensis. Merodon sublustris sp. nov., morphologically incorporated within the murorum species group, is most closely related to M. cabanerensis and M. neolydicus. The relationship of the murorum group and two species subgroups of the melanocerus group were poorly resolved.
The interspecific uncorrected pairwise p-distances in the murorum species group ranged from 1.43% (M. neolydicus and M. sublustris sp. nov.) to 8.87% (M. desuturinus and M. murorum). Similar wide range of interspecific p-distances from 1.37% (M. commutabilis and M. drakonis) to 9.34% (M. mealnocerus and M. drakonis) was observed in the melanocerus subgroup. Less variations in interspecific p-distances were observed between species of the planifacies species subgroup (2.73% on average) (Table 1).
description: Published as part of Likov, Laura, Vujić, Ante, Radenković, Snežana, Zorić, Ljiljana Šašić, Djan, Mihajla, Jordaens, Kurt & Mudri-Stojnić, Sonja, 2025, Two new hoverfly species of the Merodon desuturinus lineage (Diptera: Syrphidae: Merodontini), pp. 26-60 in European Journal of Taxonomy 987 on pages 37-44, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.987.2857, http://zenodo.org/record/15212240