Merodon pulveris Vujic & Radenkovic in Radenkovic et al. 2011

Vujic, Ante, Tot, Tamara, Andric, Andrijana, Acanski, Jelena, Sasic Zoric, Ljiljana, Perez-Banon, Celeste, Aracil, Andrea, Veselic, Sanja, Arok, Maja, Mengual, Ximo, van Eck, Andre, Rojo, Santos & Radenkovic, Snezana, 2021, Review of the Merodon natans group with description of a new species, a key to the adults of known species of the natans lineage and first descriptions of some preimaginal stages, Arthropod Systematics & amp; Phylogeny 79, pp. 343-378 : 343

Merodon pulveris Vujic & Radenkovic in Radenkovic et al. 2011

Fig. 12A, B

Merodon pulveris Vujić & Radenković in Radenković et al. 2011: 41.

Diagnosis.

Merodon pulveris is a medium sized species (11-12 mm). It can be separated from M. calcaratus by its longer antenna (Fig. 2C, D ), broader metafemur in both sexes (Fig. 4C, D ) and the large, rounded posterior surstyle lobe (Fig. 10C ) of the male genitalia (in M. calcaratus narrow, fingerlike; Fig. 5A-G ). Merodon pulveris is closely related to M. natans and M. makrisi sp. nov., but differs by the following characters of the male genitalia: ventral margin of posterior surstyle lobe with distinct triangular prominence (Fig. 10C :v), in M. natans without visible triangular prominence from lateral view (Fig. 10A, B ), it can be present in some specimens, but it is small and visible only from ventral view (Fig. 10A, B ); posterior surstyle lobe broader and shorter (Fig. 10C ), narrower and more elongated in M. makrisi sp. nov. (Figs 8A :p, B:p, 10D). Fossette position medially between the base of the arista and apex of basoflagellomere distinguishes females of this species from M. makrisi sp. nov (in M. makrisi sp. nov position of fossette is near base of arista (Fig. 2I :f)). From M. natans , females of M. pulveris can be separated by the presence of only yellow pile on the proleg tarsomeres, except in some specimens only, where the fifth tarsomere has sparse black pile (in M. natans proleg tarsomeres covered with yellow pile but also with some intermixed black pile).

Type material.

We studied the type material published in Radenković et al. (2011). - Other studied material. Published in Arok et al. (2019); CYPRUS: 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Limassol, Episkopi Ancient Kourion stadium; 34.6708°N, 32.8744°E; 112 m a.s.l; 7 Oct. 2017; J. van Steenis leg.; JvS coll.; published in van Steenis et al. (2019). - Additional material examined. CYPRUS: 2 ♀♀; Limassol, Eftagonya; 550 m a.s.l.; 25 Oct. 1951; G. Mavromoustakis leg.; KBIN (R.I.Sc.N.B. 24.236) 1♂; Limassol, Episkopi, Kourion; 4 Nov. 2016; A. van Eck leg.; FSUNS ID 25390 ( FSUNS) 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; FSUNS ID 25389 ( FSUNS) 1 ♀; Pera Pedi; 34.8658°N, 32.8489°E; 881 m a.s.l.; 2 Oct. 2017; X. Mengual leg.; ZFMK-DIP-00028080 ( ZFMK) 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 2-7 Oct. 2017; Malaise trap; ZFMK-DIP-00027945 (DNA-voucher D401) ( ZFMK) 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; ZFMK-DIP-00027945 (DNA-voucher D399) ( ZFMK) 1 ♀; same data as for preceding, 8-12 Oct. 2017; ZFMK-DIP-00027916 (DNA-voucher D397) ( ZFMK) 1 ♂; Episkopi, near Ancient Kourion stadium, across road; 34.6695°N, 32.8743°E; 106 m a.s.l.; 4 Oct. 2017; C. Makris leg.; ZFMK-DIP-00028071 ( ZFMK) 7 ♂♂; Episkopi, near Ancient Kourion stadium; 34.6709°N, 32.87453°E; 112 m a.s.l.; 7 Oct. 2017; X. Mengual leg.; ZFMK-DIP-00027868 (DNA-voucher D394), ZFMK-DIP-00028072 to ZFMK-DIP-00028074, ZFMK-DIP-00028075 (DNA-voucher D365), ZFMK-DIP-00028076, ZFMK-DIP-00028077 ( ZFMK) 2 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; ZFMK-DIP-00028078, ZFMK-DIP-00028079 ( ZFMK) 4 ♂♂; same data as for preceding; 10 Oct. 2017; ZFMK-DIP-00027874 (DNA-voucher D396), ZFMK-DIP-00028081 to ZFMK-DIP-00028083 ( ZFMK) 2 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; ZFMK-DIP-00028084, ZFMK-DIP-00028085 ( ZFMK) 2 ♀♀; S of Kelefos Bridge, N of Arminou Reservoir; 34.8866°N, 32.7463°E; 460 m. a.s.l.; 11 Oct. 2017; ZFMK-DIP-00028087, ZFMK-DIP-00028086 ( ZFMK). - GREECE: 1 ♂; Rhodes, Lindos; 6 Apr. 1971; V.S. van der Goot leg.; ZFMK-DIP-00076341 ( ZFMK) 1 ♀; Rhodes; 18 Apr. 1970; A.C. Ellis, W.N. Ellis leg.; ZFMK-DIP-00076205 ( ZFMK). - TURKEY: 1 ♀; Mugla, University campus; 37.1617°N, 28.3703°E; 720 m a.s.l.; 26 May-26 Jun. 2015; H. Kavak leg.; MT (Malaise trap); FSUNS ID 25366 (MB coll.) 4 ♂♂; Mugla, University campus; 37.1606°N, 28.3697°E; 730 m a.s.l.; Nov. 2015-Apr. 2016; M. Barták, S. Kubik leg.; MT (Malaise trap); FSUNS ID 25367 to 25369, 25371 (MB coll.) 2 ♂♂; Kizilyaka; 37.0225°N, 28.4383°E; 105 m a.s.l.; 27 Apr.-4 May 2016; M. Barták, S. Kubik leg.; FSUNS ID 25363, 25365 (MB coll.) 2 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; FSUNS ID 25362, 25364 (MB coll.) 1 ♀; 8km S of Çine, river bank; 37.5428°N, 28.0628°E; 68 m a.s.l.; 29 Apr.-1 May 2016; M. Barták, S. Kubik leg.; SW (Sweeping); FSUNS ID 25370 (MB coll.).

Distribution.

Merodon pulveris inhabits the Anatolian Peninsula, the eastern Mediterranean islands (Lesvos, Samos, Rhodes) and Cyprus, but is absent from southern and western Europe as opposed to M. natans (Fig. 6 ).

Biology.

Preferred environments (Fig. 12C ) are open areas in Eastern European maquis on limestone near coniferous forests with large populations of its host plant Prospero autumnale ( Radenković et al. 2011). Flowers visited include: Foeniculum sp., Prospero autumnale ( van Steenis et al. 2019), Drimia aphylla (Fig. 12A ). Flight period is in spring (April-May) and autumn (late September/mid October). The larva described here was found in Prospero autumnale on Lesvos island in Greece.

Figures

Figure 2. Antenna. A, B, J Merodon natans C, D, K M. pulveris E, F, I M. makrisi Vujic, Radenkovic & Tot sp. nov. G, H M. calcaratus; A, C, E, G male B, D, F, H-K female; A-H lateral view I-K dorsal view; A Greece (Olimp) B Greece (Achaia) C, D Turkey E, F, I Cyprus G, H Spain J Greece (Alexandroupoli) K Turkey. Scale bar: 0.2 mm.

Figure 4. Metaleg without tarsomeres, lateral view. A, B Merodon natans C, D M. pulveris E, F M. makrisi Vujic, Radenkovic & Tot sp. nov. G, H M. calcaratus; A, C, E, G male B, D, F, H female; A Italy (Sicily) B Croatia C, D Turkey E, F Cyprus G Algeria H Tunis. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Figure 5. Merodon calcaratus epandrium, lateral view. A Morocco B, D Algeria C Tunis E left surstyle of specimen from Kenya F Kenya G Spain. Arrow marks invagination on ventral margin of surstyle. Scale bar: 0.2 mm.

Figure 6. Distribution map of the species of Merodon natans group.

Figure 8. Merodon makrisi Vujic, Radenkovic & Tot sp. nov. male genitalia, Cyprus. A epandrium B left surstyle C, E hypandrium D aedeagus and associated structures; A, C, D lateral view B, E ventral view. Abbreviations: a - anterior surstyle lobe, aa - aedeagal apodeme, ae - aedeagus, c - cercus, ea - ejaculatory apodeme, la - lateral sclerite of aedeagus, n - notch on theca to which is attached the aedeagal apodeme, p - posterior surstyle lobe, v - triangular prominence on ventral margin of posterior surstyle lobe. Scale bar: 0.2 mm.

Figure 10. Epandrium, lateral view. A, B Merodon natans C M. pulveris D M. makrisi Vujic, Radenkovic & Tot sp. nov. Abbreviation: v - triangular prominence on ventral margin of posterior surstyle lobe; A Greece (Achaia) B Montenegro C Greece (Rhodes) D Cyprus. Scale bar: 0.2 mm.

Figure 12. Merodon pulveris. A male on Drimia aphylla, in Cyprus, photo: C. Makris, 6 Oct. 2016 B female in Cyprus, photo: C. Makris, 20 Oct. 2013 C typical habitat in Agiassos (Lesvos, Greece) where M. pulveris can be collected, photo: D. Vujanovic.