Merodon rasicus Vujić et Radenković, 2015

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 : 449-451

Merodon rasicus Vujić et Radenković sp. n.

Diagnosis. Male genitalia: tip of posterior lobe of the surstylus triangular, entire posterior lobe of the surstylus relatively small ( Fig. 9 A). Aedeagal box elongated, 1/2 to 1/3 of length of hypandrium ( Fig. 9 B: ab); shape of aedeagal box with small variations in apical part ( Fig. 10 ). Inner processes settled in apical 1/4 of hypandrium ( Figs. 6 C, 8B:ih).

This is a species with a broad range, from Serbia through Greece and Turkey to the Caucasus and Iran. Different populations show small variations in the shape of their aedeagal box ( Fig. 10 ) and posterior lobe of the surstylus, which can indicate the presence of more geographically isolated populations; however, based on the identical structure of other male genitalia features, we described M. rasicus sp. n. as one taxon.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: Serbia: ♂, Kopaonik, Kukavica, 14.vii.2012 ( FSUNS). PARATYPES: Greece: ♂, Kavala, Granites, 10.vii.1932 ( BMNH), ♂, Evros, Mountain Sapka, 6.vii.2010 ( FSUNS); Azerbaijan: ♂, Caucasus, Kusary, vi.1984 ( FSUNS); Iran: ♂, Fars Darab, Rostagh Khasham Olva, 18.iv.2006 ( NHMW); Poland: ♂, South Poland " Polonia meridiou" (R. Trojan 1957; Lampetia aenea , BMNH); Serbia: 5♂, ♀, Kopaonik, Kukavica, 14.vii.2012 ( FSUNS), Turkey: ♂, Giresun Mountains, Tamdere, 14–17.vii.1986 (Paratype of M. telmateia Hurkmans ), Hakkari, 6 ♂, 7 ♀, Cilo Mountains, 16.vi.1984, ♀, Sat Mountains, 17.vi.1984 ( RMNH), ♂, İçel, Mut–Kırobası area, 1.v.1993 ( ZMC), Kastamonu, Hanönü, ♂, Çakırçay village, 9.vi.1996, 2♂, Kuyluş village, 30.v.1999, ♂, Tosya, 8.vi.1996 ( FSUNS), ♂, Mardin, Midyat, 25.v.1983 ( RMNH); Ukraine: ♂, Krim, Artek, 18.vii. 1966 ( ZMC).

Etymology. The word rasicus refers to the type locality of the species. Ras is the former name of the region in Serbia containing Mt. Kopaonik as type area.

Figures

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 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.