Revision of Iberian species of the genus Merodon (Diptera: Syrphidae)

This study is a revision of the Iberian Merodon Meigen, 1803 species, including an illustrated key, a discussion of taxonomic characters and a morphological diagnosis for all included species. Descriptions are provided for nine new species: M antonioi sp. n., M arundanus sp. n., M cabanerensis sp. n., M. cy;pticus sp. n., M hurkmansi sp. n., M legionensis sp. n., M longispinus sp. n., M. luteihumerus sp. n. and M. quercetorum sp. n. The taxon M escorialensis Strobl, 1909 is redescribed and lectotype is designated. Lectotypes are designated for four taxa: M albifrons Meigen, 1822; M. spinipes obscuritarsis Strobl in Czerny & Strobl, 1909; M spicatus Becker, 1907; and M spinipes grossus Gil Collado, 1930. Three varieties are redefined and considered as valid species: M. obscuritarsis Strobl in Czerny & Strobl, 1909 (as var. of spinipes); M grossus Gil Collado, 1930 (as var. of spinipes); M. unicolor Strobl in Czerny & Strobl, 1909 (as var. of aeneus). The following new synonymies are proposed: M affinis Gil Collado, 1930 syn.n. (=junior synonym of M. longicornis Sack, 1913); M. lusitanicus Hurkmans, 1993 syn.n. (=junior synonym of M serrulatus Wiedemann in Meigen, 1822); M. andalusiacus Paramonov, 1929 syn.n., M. bolivari Gil Collado, 1930 syn.n., M hispanicus Sack, 1931 syn.n. (= all three are junior synonyms of M. unguicornis Strobl in Czerny & Strobl, 1909); M spicatus Becker, 1907 syn.n. (= junior synonym of All. chalybeus Wiedemann in Meigen, 1822); M fuerteventurensis Barkemeyer, 2002 syn. n. (= junior synonym of M. obscuritarsis Strobl, 1909); and M spinipes grossus (Gil Collado, 1930) syn.n. (= junior synonym of M albifrons Meigen, 1822). Status of M. serrulatus Wiedemann in Meigen, 1822 is revised. Four species: M. longicornis Sack, 1913, M. pumilus Macquart, 1849, M. ottomanus Hurkmans, 1993 and M segetum (Fabricius, 1794) are new for the Iberian Peninsula. Male genitalia are illustrated for all the species and a key of the 34 Iberian species (+ M hurkmansi sp. n.) for males and females (except for the Unknown female of A4. longispinus sp. n.) is appended. Distribution and biological data for the Iberian species are also included. A brief zoogeographic discussion is also presented. The level of endemism of genus Merodon on the Iberian Peninsula is extremely high (almost 50%).