identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
9733C848F775FFCAFF0AEB35FBE8AF58.text	9733C848F775FFCAFF0AEB35FBE8AF58.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Merodon desuturinus Vujic, Simic & Radenkovic 1995	<div><p>Diagnosis of the  Merodon desuturinus lineage</p><p>The specific shape of the lateral sclerite of the aedeagus (gradually tapered, with the tip curved downwards) is the main synapomorphic character that connects all species of the group (Fig. 1C: s). Species in this group have pile on the posterior side of mesocoxa, a curved distal prolongation of anterior surstylar lobe (Fig. 1B: al), basoflagellomere less than two times as long as wide (Fig. 2A), scutum without pollen (Fig. 2B) or with less distinct pollinose longitudinal vittae, wing microtrichose between veins R1 and RS (Fig. 2C: marked with arrow) contrary to bare area in species from the morphologically related  M. albifrons lineage, postpronotum usually brown or yellow-reddish, and pilosity on lateral side of tergum 4 in female long, medially short and mostly adpressed (Fig. 2D).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9733C848F775FFCAFF0AEB35FBE8AF58	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Likov, Laura;Vujić, Ante;Radenković, Snežana;Zorić, Ljiljana Šašić;Djan, Mihajla;Jordaens, Kurt;Mudri-Stojnić, Sonja	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). European Journal of Taxonomy 987: 26-60, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.987.2857, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2857/12989
9733C848F775FFCAFF0AE8A0FAFBAE38.text	9733C848F775FFCAFF0AE8A0FAFBAE38.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Merodon melanocerus Bezzi 1915	<div><p>Diagnosis of the  melanocerus species group</p><p>The main diagnostic character of the  Merodon melanocerus species group is the presence of a patch of dense and strong yellow pile on the metatrochanter (Fig. 3A: marked with arrow). The  melanocerus species subgroup has the oral margin notched, produced forward, and bare (Fig. 3B: marked with arrow), while the  planifacies species subgroup has the oral margin reduced and microtrichose.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9733C848F775FFCAFF0AE8A0FAFBAE38	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Likov, Laura;Vujić, Ante;Radenković, Snežana;Zorić, Ljiljana Šašić;Djan, Mihajla;Jordaens, Kurt;Mudri-Stojnić, Sonja	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). European Journal of Taxonomy 987: 26-60, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.987.2857, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2857/12989
9733C848F775FFCEFE74E9A2FE77AB6A.text	9733C848F775FFCEFE74E9A2FE77AB6A.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Merodon spinolobus Vujic, Radenkovic & Likov 2025	<div><p>Merodon spinolobus Vujić, Radenković &amp; Likov,  sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 15A66BE1-CD1A-4802-A354-12A4F87C8FA3</p><p>Figs 4A–C, 5, 7A, C, 8</p><p>Diagnosis</p><p>Mesoscutum with fascia of black pile between wing bases (Fig. 4A), usually non-pollinose. Terga black; transversal pollinose fasciate maculae on terga 2–4 broad, about ⅕ of their length (Fig. 4B). Tibiae and tarsi partly yellow brown. Thecal ridge of hypandrium of male genitalia folded (Fig. 5C: vr).</p><p>Etymology</p><p>Latin noun ‘ spina ’ meaning ‘thorn’, ‘spine’, or ‘prickle’; latin noun ‘ lobus ’ meaning ‘lobe’, which indicates the distinct morphological character of this species: long and strong medial spinal prolongation on surstylus medially.</p><p>Type material</p><p>Holotype</p><p>REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA • ♂; Free State, Mapaya Mt Groenhoek Farm, ca 15 km E of <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=27.216667&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-30.26666" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 27.216667/lat -30.26666)">Zastron</a>; 30°15ʹ59.976ʺ S 27°12ʹ59.997ʺ E; 1750 m a.s.l.; 13–16 Mar. 2009; J. and A. Londt leg.; montane grass and woodland,  Rhus,  Diospyros,  Celtis, etc.; FSUNS 68231, AU1709, NMSA-DIP 65232; NMSA.</p><p>Paratype</p><p>REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA • ♂; Free State, Mapaya Mt Groenhoek Farm, ca 15 km E of <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=27.216667&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-30.26666" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 27.216667/lat -30.26666)">Zastron</a>; 30°15ʹ59.976ʺ S 27°12ʹ59.997ʺ E; 1750 m a.s.l.; 13–16 Mar. 2009; J. and A. Londt leg.;   montane grass and woodland,  Rhus,  Diospyros,  Celtis, etc.; FSUNS 68232, AU1921, DNA-RMCA K. Jordaens 2014 111E06, NMSA-DIP 65242; NMSA.</p><p>Description</p><p>Body pile generally branched (as in Fig. 7B).</p><p>Male (Fig. 4C)</p><p>HEAD (Fig. 7A). Antenna dark brown; basoflagellomere about two times as long as wide (Fig. 7A), concave dorsally; arista dark brown, thickened basally, covered with dense brown microtrichia. Face shiny black, with narrow white pollinose stripe along eye margin (missing in lower third), long white pilose, except on median bare stripe that occupies ⅓ to ¼ width of face. Oral margin shiny black, well protruded (Fig. 7A). Frons black, with gray microtrichia. Vertical triangle black, shiny, except for anterior end where microtrichose; predominantly long, black, thick pilose, pale yellow pilose at posterior end; ocellar triangle isosceles. Eye pile dense, as long as length of scape, predominantly grayish, darker dorsally. Occiput whitish pilose; dorsally with metallic, bluish-bronze lustre; gray microtrichia start from upper eye corner as a narrow line dorsally, becoming dense and wide laterally and ventrally, occupying lower ⅔ of occiput.</p><p>THORAX. Mesoscutum and scutellum black with bronze lustre, without microtrichia; relatively long (as long as, or a little longer than length of basoflagellomere), dense, erect, more or less branched, yellow to reddish pilose, except between wing bases where black pilose (Fig. 4A). Pleurae shiny; the following parts long yellow pilose: anterior part of proepimeron, posterior part of anterior anepisternum, most of the posterior anepisternum except for anterior end, anteroventral and posterodorsal part of katepisternum, anepimeron, metasternum; katatergite dense, erect, short, yellowish pilose. Wing hyaline, with dense microtrichia and dark brown veins. Calypter yellow. Haltere with brown pedicel and yellow to brown capitulum. Legs dark brown to black, except yellowish apex of femora, and base and apex of tibiae; tarsi brown ventrally. Metatrochanter without process, covered with brush of yellow, dense, strong pile (Fig. 7C). Metafemur moderately broad and straight ventrally, long yellowish pilose (Fig. 7C). Metatibia with apical, inconspicuous anteroventral spur and with indication of posteroventral spur. Legs predominantly yellow pilose, except dorsally on tarsi where short, black pilose, and a few black pile on apical part of femora.</p><p>ABDOMEN. Black with bronze reflections, slightly tapering, as long as mesonotum. Terga 2–4 black, with more or less distinct white pollinose fasciate maculae interrupted in the middle of terga 2–3, connected on tergum 4; lateral sides of terga long, erect and whitish pilose, but adpressed on medial parts; pollinose fasciate maculae white pilose, posterior ⅔ of tergite 4 and posterior margin of terga 2–3 of most specimens white pilose, otherwise black pilose. Sternites shiny, dark brown, long whitish pilose.</p><p>GENITALIA. Posterior lobe of surstyle triangular, pointed apically and curved outwards (Fig. 5A: pl); anterior lobe of surstyle bent inwards (Fig. 5B: al); median part of surstyle with one very long inner thorn (Fig. 5B); cercus elongated (Fig. 5A: c). Hypandrium with broad theca, ventral margin folded (Fig. 5C). Lateral sclerite of aedeagus narrow, gradually tapering, with the tip curved downwards (Fig. 5C: s).</p><p>Female</p><p>Unknown.</p><p>Distribution and biology</p><p>Republic of South Africa (Fig. 8). Collected in montane grass and woodland, with  Rhus sp.,  Diospyros sp.,  Celtis sp., etc.</p><p>Differential diagnosis</p><p>The most closely related species is  M. capensis, from which it can be distinguished by the presence of a large inner thorn on the surstyle medially (Fig. 5B: it) (small in  M. capensis (Fig. 6B: it)), and the broader pollinose fasciate maculae on terga 2–4 (Fig. 4B) (less than ⅛ of their length in  M. capensis (Fig. 4D)). It differs from  M. commutabilis by the dark brown to black legs with yellowish apex of the femora, base and apex of tibiae and the ventrally brown tarsi (entirely black in  M. commutabilis), the broad posterior lobe of the surstyle of the male genitalia (Fig. 5A: pl) (narrow in  M. commutabilis) (Fig. 6D: pl), and the folded theca without additional structures of the hypandrium in  M. spinolobus sp. nov. (Fig. 5C: vr) (theca unfolded (Fig. 19C), and with distinct subapical lamellas and lateral wings in  M. commutabilis).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9733C848F775FFCEFE74E9A2FE77AB6A	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Likov, Laura;Vujić, Ante;Radenković, Snežana;Zorić, Ljiljana Šašić;Djan, Mihajla;Jordaens, Kurt;Mudri-Stojnić, Sonja	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). European Journal of Taxonomy 987: 26-60, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.987.2857, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2857/12989
9733C848F77DFFC2FE15EC14FD48ABED.text	9733C848F77DFFC2FE15EC14FD48ABED.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Merodon cabanerensis Marcos-Garcia, Vujic & Mengual 2007	<div><p>Merodon cabanerensis Marcos-García, Vujić &amp; Mengual, 2007</p><p>Examined material</p><p>MOROCCO • ♂; <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-6.4941297&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=31.889679" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -6.4941297/lat 31.889679)">Azilal</a>, Ait Mhamed; 31°53ʹ22.848ʺ N 6°29ʹ38.868ʺ W; 1700 m a.s.l.; 26 Mar. 2013; J. Dils leg.; FSUNS 10395; coll. VWG  .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9733C848F77DFFC2FE15EC14FD48ABED	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Likov, Laura;Vujić, Ante;Radenković, Snežana;Zorić, Ljiljana Šašić;Djan, Mihajla;Jordaens, Kurt;Mudri-Stojnić, Sonja	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). European Journal of Taxonomy 987: 26-60, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.987.2857, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2857/12989
9733C848F77DFFC2FF0AEF2BFC50A8EE.text	9733C848F77DFFC2FF0AEF2BFC50A8EE.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Merodon murorum Fabricius 1794	<div><p>Diagnosis of the  murorum species group</p><p>Species without patch of dense yellow pile on metatrochanter, present in  melanocerus species group.</p><p>Identification</p><p>Vujić et al. (2018) recently revised these species groups and provided an identification key for the  desuturinus lineage, including the  M. murorum species group.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9733C848F77DFFC2FF0AEF2BFC50A8EE	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Likov, Laura;Vujić, Ante;Radenković, Snežana;Zorić, Ljiljana Šašić;Djan, Mihajla;Jordaens, Kurt;Mudri-Stojnić, Sonja	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). European Journal of Taxonomy 987: 26-60, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.987.2857, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2857/12989
9733C848F77DFFDBFE7DED17FAF3AF19.text	9733C848F77DFFDBFE7DED17FAF3AF19.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Merodon sublustris Likov, Vujic & Radenkovic 2025	<div><p>Merodon sublustris Likov, Vujić &amp; Radenković,  sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 7F418A9F-36D6-4EF1-9FCD-9D8680B98FE1</p><p>Figs 8, 9A–B, D, 10–11, 12A</p><p>Diagnosis</p><p>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).</p><p>Etymology</p><p>Latin adjective  ‘ sublustris ’ (faintly lit, dim) referring to predominantly dull and pollinose scutum and frons.</p><p>Type material</p><p>Holotype</p><p>IRAN • ♂; Fars Province, 15 km S of <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=51.939507&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=29.55238" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 51.939507/lat 29.55238)">Dasht Arjan</a>; 29°33ʹ8.57ʺ N 51°56ʹ22.22ʺ E; 2261 m a.s.l.; 2–6 May 2016; Martin Obořil leg.; FSUNS 18285; MMBC.</p><p>Paratypes</p><p>IRAN • 2 ♂♂; FSUNS 18287, 18283 •   2 ♀♀; Fars Province, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=51.939507&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=29.55238" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 51.939507/lat 29.55238)">15 km S of Dasht Arjan</a>; 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, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=51.942&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=29.552" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 51.942/lat 29.552)">Dasht Arjan</a>; 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, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=51.912003&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=29.630001" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 51.912003/lat 29.630001)">Dasht Arjan</a>; 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)  .</p><p>Description</p><p>Male</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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).</p><p>Female</p><p>Similar to the male except for typical sexual dimorphism (Figs 9B, 10B, D).</p><p>Distribution</p><p>Registered only in Iran (Fig. 8).</p><p>Differential diagnosis</p><p>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).</p><p>Key to the species of the  Merodon desuturinus lineage – males</p><p>1. Eyes holoptic (i.e. touching) (as on Fig. 13C) ................................................................................. 3</p><p>– Eyes dichoptic (i.e. separated or slightly touching) (as on Fig. 13A, D) ......................................... 2</p><p>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</p><p>– 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 &amp; Radenković, 1995</p><p>3. Oral margin reduced (Fig. 13B), microtrichose (central and southern Africa).................................... ..................  Merodon planifacies subgroup (key published in separated paper, Vujić et al. in prep.)</p><p>– Oral margin notched, slightly produced forward (as on Fig. 3B) .................................................... 4</p><p>4. Male genitalia: hypandrium with folded thecal ridge (as on Fig. 15A: vr) ..................................... 5</p><p>– Male genitalia: hypandrium with smooth thecal ridge (as on Fig. 15B: vr) .................................... 7</p><p>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</p><p>– 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</p><p>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 &amp; Likov sp. nov.</p><p>– 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</p><p>7. Male genitalia: posterior surstylar lobe with parallel margins in apical half (as on Fig. 16A: pl) .. 8</p><p>– Male genitalia: posterior surstylar lobe triangular (as on Fig. 18C: pl) or with hook-like apex (as on Fig. 18A: pl) ................................................................................................................................... 10</p><p>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 &amp; Mengual, 2007</p><p>– 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</p><p>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 &amp; Radenković sp. nov.</p><p>– Scutum shiny (Fig. 12B) and with very indistinct narrow medial pollinose vittae; vertex mostly shiny (Fig. 9C); (distribution: Eastern Mediterranean) ................  Merodon neolydicus Vujić, 2018</p><p>10. Male genitalia: posterior surstylar lobe long and narrow (as on Fig. 18A: pl) ............................... 11</p><p>– Male genitalia: posterior surstylar lobe broad and triangular (as on Fig. 18C: pl) ........................ 12</p><p>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 &amp; Radenković, 2018</p><p>– 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</p><p>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</p><p>– 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 &amp; Vujić, 2018</p><p>Key to the species of the  Merodon desuturinus lineage – females</p><p>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.</p><p>1. Oral margin reduced (as on Fig. 20A), covered by microtrichia (central and southern Africa) ......... ..........................................................................................................  Merodon planifacies subgroup</p><p>– Oral margin evident, notched, shiny (as on Fig. 7A) ....................................................................... 2</p><p>2. Tergum 2 black or at least lateral sides dark (as on Fig. 21C) ......................................................... 3</p><p>– Tergum 2 with orange lateral maculae extending along lateral sides (as on Fig. 21A–B) .............. 6</p><p>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</p><p>– Legs black, exceptionally tarsi of metalegs brown ventrally; pilosity of scutum variable, can be covered with pale or mixed black and pale pile .............................................................................. 4</p><p>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 &amp; Vujić, 2018</p><p>– Basoflagellomere shorter, almost as long as wide (as on Fig. 22B); terga 2–4 each without or with very narrow microtrichose fasciate maculae ................................................................................... 5</p><p>5. Distribution: Balkan Peninsula (Serbia, Montenegro) ........................................................................ ..................................................................  Merodon desuturinus Vujić, Šimić &amp; Radenković, 1995</p><p>– Distribution: Western Mediterranean (central Spain) ......................................................................... ......................................................  Merodon cabanerensis Marcos-García, Vujić &amp; Mengual, 2007</p><p>6. Basoflagellomere elongated, more than 1.5 times as long as wide (as on Fig. 22A, C) .................. 7</p><p>– Basoflagellomere shorter, less than 1.5 times as long as wide (as on Fig. 22D) ............................. 8</p><p>7. Frons with very narrow microtrichose vittae along eye margins (Fig. 23A) (Republic of South Africa) ....................................................................................  Merodon flavocerus Hurkmans, 2018</p><p>– Frons with broad lateral microtrichose vittae (Fig. 23B) (North Africa) ........................................... ...................................................................................................  Merodon murorum Fabricius, 1794</p><p>8. Body pile very short (as on Fig. 21A); metatrochanter with sparse pale pile (as on Fig. 24A) (distribution: Palaearctic) ................................................................................................................. 9</p><p>– Body pile long (as on Fig. 24C); metatrochanter with patch of dense yellow pile (as on Fig. 24B); (distribution: Republic of South Africa) ........................................................................................ 10</p><p>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 &amp; Radenković sp. nov.</p><p>– 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</p><p>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</p><p>– 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 &amp; Radenković, 2018</p><p>Molecular analysis</p><p>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.</p><p>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).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9733C848F77DFFDBFE7DED17FAF3AF19	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Likov, Laura;Vujić, Ante;Radenković, Snežana;Zorić, Ljiljana Šašić;Djan, Mihajla;Jordaens, Kurt;Mudri-Stojnić, Sonja	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). European Journal of Taxonomy 987: 26-60, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.987.2857, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/2857/12989
