First record of the genus Myolepta Newman, 1838 (Diptera: Syrphidae) for Pakistan, with description of a new species

Abstract

ABSTRACT The genus Myolepta, described by Newman in 1838, comprises four species in the Oriental Realm. In this paper, we describe a new species Myolepta mahmoodii Hassan & Bodlah sp. nov. from the Pothohar region of Punjab, Pakistan. The new species is characterised by a broadly oval abdomen, unlike the abdomen of M. petiolata (which is strongly constricted) and that of M. graciliventris (which is moderately constricted, tergite 2 longer than wide, whereas the tergite is wider than its length in the new species). In M. himalayana the colouration of the abdomen and legs are different (e.g. the femora are entirely black, tergite 2 entirely orange-reddish) and it is the only species with short oval antennae (antennae as long as length of the face in M. orientalis). Photographs of the new species, diagnostic characters, distribution, and adult host plant are provided. Distribution map of all known species from the Oriental Realm is provided, and their species diagnoses are briefly discussed. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:FE97E234-2BF4-4406-A429-99FD358CCE45