Revisions of the clavipes and pruni species groups of the genus Merodon Meigen, 1803 (Diptera, Syrphidae) Author Vujić, Ante 0000-0002-8819-8079 University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia Author Radenković, Snežana 0000-0002-7805-9614 University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia Author Likov, Laura 0000-0002-7215-1006 University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia Author Tubić, Nataša Kočiš 0000-0002-6077-7378 University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia Author Popov, Grigory 0000-0002-2519-1937 I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Bohdan Khmelnytsky Street 15, UA- 01030 Kyiv, Ukraine & Department of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Alicante, PO Box. 99, 03080 Alicante, Spain Author Gilasian, Ebrahim Insect Taxonomy Research Department, Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Tehran, 19395 - 1454, Iran Author Djan, Mihajla 0000-0002-2427-0676 University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia Author Milosavljević, Marina Janković 0000-0002-2136-815X University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia Author Ačanski, Jelena 0000-0003-1745-6410 University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia text ZooKeys 2024 2024-05-28 1203 1 69 journal article 10.3897/zookeys.1203.118842 C1A2654B-7DC3-4451-91B7-49B29304FBED Merodon cupreus Hurkmans, 1993 Merodon cupreus Hurkmans, 1993: 179 . Type locality. Turkey , “ Kars ”. Original description was based on a male holotype and a high number of male and female paratypes (all in RMNH ) ( Hurkmans 1993: 179 ). Holotype (designated by Hurkmans): male, Turkey , Kars ( RMNH ), [specimen dry pinned]. Original labels: [ Turkey , Kars , Handere 2100–2200 m , 20 km W of Saricamiş, 1. viii. 1983 , leg. J. A. W. Lucas], [ Holotype of Merodon cupreus Hurkmans ] (examined). Diagnosis. Bumble bee mimic species (similar to species from clavipes species group) with pile on scutum longer than basoflagellomere (shorter in other species of the pruni species group); mesonotum with whitish pile except for broad black-pilose fascia between wing bases (Fig. 27 B ); tergum 2 black (mostly reddish yellow in other species of the pruni group); tergum 2 with whitish to yellow pile, and terga 3 and 4 covered with yellow to reddish pilosity (Fig. 26 C ); legs black; calcar on metatrochanter distinct; metafemur curved and covered with long, dense pilosity (Fig. 25 B ); sternum 3 medially with distinct pilosity (Fig. 30 B : marked with arrow); sternum 4 in Fig. 28 B . Male genitalia in Fig. 35 . Similar to Merodon clavipes and M. quadrinotatus from which it clearly differs by its short basoflagellomere, which is as long as broad (as on Fig. 24 A ) (basoflagellomere> 2 × longer than wide in M. clavipes (Fig. 2 A ) and M. quadrinotatus (Fig. 2 C )). Distribution and biology. The species is solely distributed in Turkey (Fig. 34 ; Suppl. material 2 ), including the eastern Pontic and Taurus mountains belonging to the Irano-Anatolian hotspot. These chains of high mountains form a natural barrier between the Mediterranean Basin and the dry plateaux of Western Asia. This topographically complex and extensive system of mountains and closed basins includes major parts of central and eastern Turkey . Historically, the mountains have served both as refuge and corridor between the eastern Mediterranean and western Asia, giving rise to multiple patches of local endemism. The principal habitat of the species inside the hotspot is mountainous forest steppe, supporting oak-dominant ( Quercus spp. ) deciduous forests ( CEPF 2022 ). Flight period: June / August. Developmental stages: not described.