Merodon sublustris Likov, Vujić & Radenković, 2025

Merodon sublustris Likov, Vujić & Radenković , sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7F418A9F-36D6-4EF1-9FCD-9D8680B98FE1

Figs 8 View Fig , 9A–B, D View Fig , 10–11 View Fig View Fig , 12A View Fig

Diagnosis

Dark species with broad abdomen. The oral margin slightly notched. Basoflagellomere short, 1–1.2 times as long as wide ( Fig. 9D View Fig ). 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 View Fig ). 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 View Fig ). Males: eye contiguity 5–12 facets long ( Fig. 9A View Fig ). Male genitalia with smooth thecal ridge, posterior surstylar lobe with parallel margins ( Fig. 11A View Fig : 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 View Materials ; MMBC.

GoogleMaps

Paratypes

IRAN • 2 ♂♂; FSUNS 18287 View Materials , 18283 View Materials • 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 View Materials , 18292 View Materials ; FSUNS GoogleMaps • 2 ♂♂; FSUNS 18284 View Materials , 18286 View Materials • 2 ♀♀; same collecting data as for preceding; FSUNS 18291 View Materials , 18289 View Materials ; 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 View Materials ; FSUNS GoogleMaps • 3 ♂♂; FSUNS 68230 View Materials , 68226 View Materials , 68227 View Materials • 2 ♀♀; same collecting data as for preceding; FSUNS 68224 View Materials , 68225 View Materials ; 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 View Materials ; FSUNS GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; same collecting data as for preceding; FSUNS 68229 View Materials ; coll. MB GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; locality unknown; 1 Apr. 1936; F. Brandt leg.; FSUNS 02608 View Materials ; MZH; published as Merodon neolydicus in Vujić et al. (2018) .

Description

Male

HEAD ( Fig. 9A, D View Fig ). 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 View Fig ). 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 View Fig ). 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 View Fig ). 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 View Fig : pl); apical parts of anterior surstylar lobe long and bent inwards; median part of surstylus with two inner thorns ( Fig. 11B View Fig ); cercus elongated and broadened apically ( Fig. 11A View Fig : c). Hypandrium with broad theca and smooth thecal ridge ( Fig. 11C View Fig ). Lateral sclerite of aedeagus narrow, gradually tapered, with the tip curved downwards ( Fig. 11C View Fig : s).

Female

Similar to the male except for typical sexual dimorphism ( Figs 9B View Fig , 10B, D View Fig ).

Distribution

Registered only in Iran ( Fig. 8 View Fig ).

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 View Fig : marked with arrows) (shiny and with indistinct narrow medial pollinose vittae in M. neolydicus ( Fig. 12B View Fig )), the vertical triangle of the male, and frons of the female which are mostly pollinose ( Fig. 9A–B View Fig ), (mostly shiny in M. neolydicus ( Fig. 9C View Fig )), 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 View Fig ) ................................................................................. 3

– Eyes dichoptic (i.e. separated or slightly touching) (as on Fig. 13A, D View Fig ) ......................................... 2

2. Basoflagellomere elongated, 1.5 times as long as wide ( Fig. 14A View Fig ); male genitalia with posterior surstylar lobe very short, broad and triangular ( Fig. 14C View Fig : pl) ( Republic of South Africa) ................. ................................................................................................ Merodon flavocerus Hurkmans, 2018 View in CoL

– Basoflagellomere shorter, almost as long as wide ( Fig. 14B View Fig ); male genitalia with posterior surstylar lobe elongated and triangular ( Fig. 14D View Fig : pl) (Balkan Peninsula: Serbia, Montenegro)...................... .................................................................. Merodon desuturinus Vujić, Šimić & Radenković, 1995

3. Oral margin reduced ( Fig. 13B View Fig ), microtrichose (central and southern Africa).................................... .................. Merodon planifacies View in CoL subgroup (key published in separated paper, Vujić et al. in prep.)

– Oral margin notched, slightly produced forward (as on Fig. 3B View Fig ) .................................................... 4

4. Male genitalia: hypandrium with folded thecal ridge (as on Fig. 15A View Fig : vr) ..................................... 5

– Male genitalia: hypandrium with smooth thecal ridge (as on Fig. 15B View Fig : 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 View Fig : vms) and hypandrium slightly angular (as in Fig. 5C View Fig ) ( Republic of South Africa) ............................................................................................................... 6

– Scutum entirely with pale pile; male genitalia: ventral margin of surstylus ( Fig. 15D View Fig : vms) and hypandrium distinctly angular ( Fig. 15E View Fig : marked with arrow) ( Zimbabwe) ...................................... .................................................................................................. Merodon cuthbertsoni Curran, 1939 View in CoL

6. Scutum with black pile around wing bases; inner thorn of surstyle medially very long and strong ( Fig. 5B View Fig : 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 View Fig : it); fasciate maculae of microtrichia on terga 2–4 narrow, less than ⅛ of their length ............................................................................ Merodon capensis Hurkmans, 2018 View in CoL

7. Male genitalia: posterior surstylar lobe with parallel margins in apical half (as on Fig. 16A View Fig : pl) .. 8

– Male genitalia: posterior surstylar lobe triangular (as on Fig. 18C View Fig : pl) or with hook-like apex (as on Fig. 18A View Fig : pl) ................................................................................................................................... 10

8. Small species (8–11 mm) with narrow abdomen ( Fig. 16D View Fig ); male genitalia: ventral margin of anterior surstylar lobe angular ( Fig. 16A View Fig : al), distal prolongation on anterior surstylar lobe broad ( Fig. 16B View Fig : dp); apical part of hypandrium narrow ( Fig. 16C View Fig ) (Western Mediterranean: central Spain) .............. ...................................................... Merodon cabanerensis Marcos-García, Vujić & Mengual, 2007 View in CoL

– Large species (10–13 mm) with broader abdomen (as on Fig. 17D View Fig ); male genitalia: ventral margin of anterior surstylar lobe rounded (as on Fig. 17A View Fig : vms), distal prolongation on anterior surstylar lobe narrow and directed towards the central line of symmetry of epandrium (as on Fig. 17B View Fig : dp); apical part of hypandrium broad (as on Fig. 17C View Fig ) ..................................................................................... 9

9. Scutum dull with three clearly visible pollinose vittae medially ( Fig. 12A View Fig : marked with arrows); vertex mostly pollinose ( Fig. 9A View Fig ); (distribution: Iran) ....................................................................... .................................................................. Merodon sublustris Likov, Vujić & Radenković sp. nov.

– Scutum shiny ( Fig. 12B View Fig ) and with very indistinct narrow medial pollinose vittae; vertex mostly shiny ( Fig. 9C View Fig ); (distribution: Eastern Mediterranean) ................ Merodon neolydicus Vujić, 2018 View in CoL

10. Male genitalia: posterior surstylar lobe long and narrow (as on Fig. 18A View Fig : pl) ............................... 11

– Male genitalia: posterior surstylar lobe broad and triangular (as on Fig. 18C View Fig : pl) ........................ 12

11. Male genitalia: posterior surstylar lobe with small apical ridge ( Fig. 18A View Fig : 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 View Fig : both marked with arrow) ( Republic of South Africa) ...................................................................... Merodon drakonis Vujić & Radenković, 2018 View in CoL

– Male genitalia: posterior surstylar lobe with apical globule ( Fig. 19A View Fig : pl, ag); anterior surstylar lobe less evident ( Fig. 19A View Fig : al); theca of hypandrium in apical fourth without lateral lamellae or lateral wings ( Fig. 15B View Fig : t) (North Africa) ............................................ Merodon murorum Fabricius, 1794 View in CoL

12. Tergum 2 with orange lateral maculae; male genitalia: anterior surstylar lobe with almost straight ventral margin ( Fig. 18C View Fig : al) and large inner thorn ( Fig. 18C View Fig : it); theca of hypandrium narrow in apical quarter, without lateral lamellae or lateral wings ( Fig. 18D View Fig ) ( Republic of South Africa) ....... .................................................................................................... Merodon melanocerus Bezzi, 1915 View in CoL

– Tergum 2 usually black; male genitalia with anterior surstylar lobe with convex ventral margin ( Fig. 19B View Fig : al), theca of hypandrium in apical quarter broad with oval lateral lamellae ( Fig. 19C View Fig : sl), and small lateral wings ( Republic of South Africa) ............................................................................ .......................................................................... Merodon commutabilis Radenković & Vujić, 2018 View in CoL

Key to the species of the Merodon desuturinus lineage – females

Note: the female of Merodon cuthbertsoni View in CoL is unknown, but most probably keys out with M. capensis View in CoL ; the female of Merodon spinolobus sp. nov. is unknown.

1. Oral margin reduced (as on Fig. 20A View Fig ), covered by microtrichia (central and southern Africa) ......... .......................................................................................................... Merodon planifacies View in CoL subgroup

– Oral margin evident, notched, shiny (as on Fig. 7A View Fig ) ....................................................................... 2

2. Tergum 2 black or at least lateral sides dark (as on Fig. 21C View Fig ) ......................................................... 3

– Tergum 2 with orange lateral maculae extending along lateral sides (as on Fig. 21A–B View Fig ) .............. 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 View in CoL

– 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 View Fig ); terga 2–4 each with clear microtrichose fasciate maculae ( Fig. 21D View Fig ) ( Republic of South Africa) ............................................. .......................................................................... Merodon commutabilis Radenković & Vujić, 2018 View in CoL

– Basoflagellomere shorter, almost as long as wide (as on Fig. 22B View Fig ); 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 View in CoL

6. Basoflagellomere elongated, more than 1.5 times as long as wide (as on Fig. 22A, C View Fig ) .................. 7

– Basoflagellomere shorter, less than 1.5 times as long as wide (as on Fig. 22D View Fig ) ............................. 8

7. Frons with very narrow microtrichose vittae along eye margins ( Fig. 23A View Fig ) ( Republic of South Africa) .................................................................................... Merodon flavocerus Hurkmans, 2018 View in CoL

– Frons with broad lateral microtrichose vittae ( Fig. 23B View Fig ) (North Africa) ........................................... ................................................................................................... Merodon murorum Fabricius, 1794 View in CoL

8. Body pile very short (as on Fig. 21A View Fig ); metatrochanter with sparse pale pile (as on Fig. 24A View Fig ) (distribution: Palaearctic) ................................................................................................................. 9

– Body pile long (as on Fig. 24C View Fig ); metatrochanter with patch of dense yellow pile (as on Fig. 24B View Fig ); (distribution: Republic of South Africa) ........................................................................................ 10

9. Scutum dull, with three clearly visible pollinose vittae medially (as in male in Fig. 12A View Fig : marked with arrows); vertex and frons mostly pollinose ( Fig. 9B View Fig ); (distribution: Iran) ......................................... .................................................................. Merodon sublustris Likov, Vujić & Radenković sp. nov.

– Scutum shiny (as in male in Fig. 12B View Fig ) and with indistinct narrow medial pollinose vittae; frons mostly shiny; (distribution: Eastern Mediterranean) .................... Merodon neolydicus Vujić, 2018 View in CoL

10. Frons shiny, almost without microtrichia; distance between posterior ocellus and upper eye corner larger than distance between posterior and anterior ocelli ( Fig. 20B View Fig ) ( Republic of South Africa) .... ................................................................................................... Merodon melanocerus Bezzi, 1915 View in CoL

– 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 View Fig ) ( Republic of South Africa) ....................................................... Merodon drakonis Vujić & Radenković, 2018 View in CoL

Molecular analysis

The MP analysis yielded a strict consensus tree of four equally parsimonious trees ( Fig. 25 View Fig ). The ML tree is depicted in Fig. 26 View Fig . 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 View Table 1 ).