Merodon neonanus Vujić et Taylor, 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 : 448-449

Merodon neonanus Vujić et Taylor sp. n.

Diagnosis. Male genitalia ( Figs. 7 A, 8): posterior lobe of surstylus extremely large, with posterior margin straight, narrow tip; ventral margin strongly S-shaped with distinct convex part of the curve ( Fig. 8 A); the shape of posterior lobe of the surstylus can vary slightly ( Fig. 8 B). Aedeagal box short and broad ( Fig. 12 B), 1/4 of length of hypandrium ( Fig. 8 C: ab); aedeagal apodeme attached to the theca before the middle of the dorsal margin ( Fig.8 C: n). Inner edge of apical part of hypandrium S form, strongly sclerotized ( Fig. 7 A: x). Inner processes settled in apical 1/2.5 of hypandrium ( Fig. 8 C: ih). Species is similar to M. kopensis sp. n. from which it differs by very large posterior lobe of surstylus, more than 2 times longer than cercus ( Fig. 8 A); and aedeagal apodeme attached to the theca before the middle of dorsal margin ( Fig. 8 C: n). The shape of the inner edge of the apical part of the hypandrium ( Figs. 7 A, 7B: x) is the most striking difference, along with the conspicuously large posterior lobe of the surstylus ( Figs. 8 A, 6A).

Type material. HOLOTYPE: Turkey: ♂, Muğla, Köyceğiz lake, 30.iv.2014 ( FSUNS). PARATYPES: Greece: ♀, Samos, Pyrgos, 8.vi.2012 ( FSUNS), Chios, ♂, 1 km W from Trachili, 27.iv.2000, 2♂, 2♀, 3 km W from Issidorus, 1.v.2000 (M.J.S. coll.), 2♂, near Issidoros, 5.v.1998, 6♂, ♀, Amades, 24.v.2002 (WML), 2♂, Avgonima, 25.iv.2002, Fyta, ♀, 7.vii.1999, ♂, ♀, 1.v.2000 (M.J.S. coll.), 2♂, 4.vi.2001, ♂,♀, 27.v.2010, 2♂, near Fyta, 7.vi.1998 (WML), 2 ♂, 24.v.2009 ( MZH), ♂, Kampia Gorge, 21.v.2003 (WML), ♂, Kipouries, 13.v.1995 (M.J.S. coll.), Mountain Pelinaeon, 5♂, 14.v.2003, 8♂, 13.v.2010, 2 ♂, 29.iv.2010 (WML), 2 ♂, 14.v.2009, ♂, 23.v.2009 ( MZH), near Armolia, ♂, 1.vi.1998, ♀, 5.v.2001, ♂, Thimiana, 5.x.1995 (WML); FRY Macedonia: ♂, Skopje, Breznica, 24.v.2003 ( MMNHS); Turkey: ♂ ( ZHMB), 2 ♂, Bayburt, Kop mountain pass, 16.vii.1992, ♂, Erzurum, Şenkaya, Turnalı, 20.vi.1997 ( RMNH), ♂, ♀, Muğla, Köyceğiz lake, 30.iv.2014 ( FSUNS), 2 ♂, 2♀, Manisa, Spildağ, 13.vi.2008 (A.S. coll.), Muğla, near Çakmak, ♂, 6.iii.2014, 2 ♀, 6.v.2014 ( FSUNS), 3♂, Ortaca, Dalaman Stream, 23.v.2000 (J.S. coll.), 2 ♂, Yeşilüzümlü, Kırkpınar, 28.v.2000 (M.R. coll.).

Etymology. The word neonanus is derived from the Greek adjective neos meaning new and the name nanus , referring to a new species related to M. nanus , which received its name because of its small size.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Apical part of hypandrium, anterior view. A. Merodon neonanus sp. n.; B. M. kopensis sp. n.; C. M. rasicus sp. n.; D. M. telmateia; x—inner edge of the apical part of the hypandrium; ih—inner processes of the hypandrium.

FIGURE 8. Male genitalia of Merodon neonanus sp. n. A – B. epandrium, lateral view; C. hypandrium, lateral view; D. distal end of aedeagus, ventral view; A—Greece; B—FRY of Macedonia; ab—aedeagal box; n—notch on theca to which is attached the aedeagal apodeme; ih—inner processes of the hypandrium.

FIGURE 12. Aedeagus with accessory structures, lateral view. A. Merodon kopensis sp. n.; B. M. neonanus sp. n.; C. M. nanus; D. M. rasicus sp. n.; E. M. telmateia.