Abstract
Two new species of Meropidia Hippa & Thompson, 1983 (Diptera, Syrphidae) are described, Meropidia nitida Morales, sp. n. and Meropidia flavens Hippa & Ståhls sp. n., from Bolivia and Colombia respectively. A key to all described Meropidia species is provided.
Highlights
The Neotropical region has a very high diversity of flower flies (Diptera, Syrphidae), comprising just over 30% of the currently recognized species in the world (Thompson et al 2010) and many species new to science have continuously been described for genera confined to this region (e.g. Rotheray et al 2007, 2009, Carvalho Filho and Esposito 2009, Morales et al 2009, Ricarte et al 2012)
Because many insects are associated with plants, the extreme plant endemism of the Tropical Andes suggests a similar high level of insect diversity and endemism (Larsen et al 2011)
The high altitudes of the Andes include the most endangered and vulnerable ecosystem in South America and it is one of the three areas where the largest changes in fauna are predicted as a result of climate change (e.g. Lawler et al 2009, Larsen et al 2011)
Summary
The Neotropical region has a very high diversity of flower flies (Diptera, Syrphidae), comprising just over 30% of the currently recognized species in the world (Thompson et al 2010) and many species new to science have continuously been described for genera confined to this region (e.g. Rotheray et al 2007, 2009, Carvalho Filho and Esposito 2009, Morales et al 2009, Ricarte et al 2012). Meropidia Hippa & Thompson, 1983 belongs to the subfamily Eristalinae and was placed in the tribe Milesiini, subtribe Tropidiina (Hippa and Thompson 1983) This subtribe comprises seven genera in addition to Meropidia: Calcaretropidia Keiser, 1971, Macrozelima Stackelberg, 1930, Nepenthosyrphus Meijere, 1932, Orthoprosopa Macquart, 1850, Senogaster Macquart, 1843, Syritta Lepeletier & Serville, 1828 and Tropidia (Meigen, 1822). Of these genera only Meropidia and Senogaster are confined to the Neotropical region, while species of Syritta and Tropidia occur in the region (Thompson 2013). Two new species of Meropidia Hippa & Thompson, 1983 (Diptera, Syrphidae)
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