Abstract
The species of the Eumerus tricolor species group in Iran are reviewed. Six species new to science are described from Iran, i.e., Eumerus atricolorus Gilasian & van Steenis sp. nov., E. brevipilosus Gilasian & van Steenis sp. nov., E. chekabicus Gilasian & van Steenis sp. nov., E. ovoformus Gilasian & van Steenis sp. nov., E. pilosipedes Gilasian & van Steenis sp. nov. and E. vallicolus Gilasian & van Steenis sp. nov. Three species, E. hissaricus Stackelberg, 1949, E. longitarsis Peck, 1979 and E. richteri Stackelberg, 1960, are newly recorded from Iran. Photographs of the species as well as illustrations of the male genitalia of the new species and closely related species are provided. An identification key to the males of the Iranian Eumerus tricolor species group is presented. A row of long posterodorsal setae on the wing vein costa basally is presented and argued as a new diagnostic morphological character for the entire Eumerus tricolor species group.
Highlights
The genus Eumerus Meigen, 1822 (Syrphidae: Merodontini) with more than 300 described species is one of the most diverse genera of hoverflies, which largely inhabit arid and semi-arid regions of the world (Grković et al 2019a; Mutin 2019)
The Eumerus tricolor species group can be identified by the combination of the following characters: basoflagellomere radially furrowed, apico-laterally with clearly demarcated, ellipsoidal fossa; katepisternum ventrally, medially and dorsally pilose; wing vein costa with a row of long posterodorsal setae basally; terga often more or less red coloured; anterior surstylus lobe undeveloped
A total of 17 species belonging to the Eumerus tricolor group are recorded from Iran, six of which are new to science, i.e., Eumerus atricolorus Gilasian & van Steenis sp. nov., E. brevipilosus Gilasian & van Steenis sp. nov., E. chekabicus Gilasian & van Steenis sp. nov., E. ovoformus Gilasian & van Steenis sp. nov., E. pilosipedes Gilasian & van Steenis sp. nov. and E. vallicolus Gilasian & van Steenis sp. nov., and three species are newly reported from Iran, i.e., E. hissaricus Stackelberg, 1949, E. longitarsis Peck, 1979 and E. richteri Stackelberg, 1960
Summary
The genus Eumerus Meigen, 1822 (Syrphidae: Merodontini) with more than 300 described species is one of the most diverse genera of hoverflies, which largely inhabit arid and semi-arid regions of the world (Grković et al 2019a; Mutin 2019). Adults of Eumerus are distinguishable among syrphid genera by the recessive, biangulate wing vein M1 in addition to their usually black or blackish-red aspect with greyish pollinosity of abdominal terga. They are fast flying with a visiting preference for flowers belonging. With feeding on a wide range of plant tissues and taxa, including commercial species, Eumerus is considered a polyphagous genus (Ricarte et al 2008, 2017; Grković et al 2015; Mutin 2016, 2019; van Steenis et al 2017; Souba-Dols et al 2020)
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