Morphological, Genetic and Biological Evidences to Understand <i>Meromacrus</i> Rondani Diversity: New Species and Early Stages (Diptera: Syrphidae)

<i>Meromacrus</i> is a genus of conspicuous syrphids with saprophagous larvae, ranging from the southern United States to Argentina and Chile. However, this genus is in need of a taxonomic revision. Adults reared from larvae collected in Mexico and Peru, and other material available at d...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Antonio Ricarte, Gabriel J. Souba-Dols, Jeffrey H. Skevington, Javier Quinto, Mª Ángeles Marcos García
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-11-01
Series:Insects
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/11/11/791
Description
Summary:<i>Meromacrus</i> is a genus of conspicuous syrphids with saprophagous larvae, ranging from the southern United States to Argentina and Chile. However, this genus is in need of a taxonomic revision. Adults reared from larvae collected in Mexico and Peru, and other material available at different institutional collections were examined. <i>Meromacrus cactorum</i> sp. nov., from Peru, <i>Meromacrus yucatense</i> sp. nov., from Mexico, their puparia and breeding sites were described. A key to <i>Meromacrus</i> puparia is provided. The holotypes of <i>Meromacrus canusium</i>, <i>Meromacrus gloriosus</i>, <i>Meromacrus laconicus</i> and <i>Meromacrus melmoth</i> were also examined. The name <i>Meromacrus draco</i> is proposed as a junior synonym of <i>M. gloriosus</i>. Larvae of <i>M. cactorum</i> sp. nov. were found in decaying columnar cacti in Peru, while those of <i>M. yucatense</i> sp. nov. in a rot-hole of a <i>Ceiba pentandra</i> stump. Obtained results on both taxonomy and biology of these species serve as a first step towards a revision of the entire genus.
ISSN:2075-4450