Morphological, Genetic and Biological Evidences to Understand <i>Meromacrus</i> Rondani Diversity: New Species and Early Stages (Diptera: Syrphidae)

Abstract

Meromacrus is a genus of conspicuous syrphids with saprophagous larvae, ranging from the southern United States to Argentina and Chile. However, this genus is in need of a taxonomic revision. Adults reared from larvae collected in Mexico and Peru, and other material available at different institutional collections were examined. Meromacrus cactorum sp. nov., from Peru, Meromacrus yucatense sp. nov., from Mexico, their puparia and breeding sites were described. A key to Meromacrus puparia is provided. The holotypes of Meromacrus canusium, Meromacrus gloriosus, Meromacrus laconicus and Meromacrus melmoth were also examined. The name Meromacrus draco is proposed as a junior synonym of M. gloriosus. Larvae of M. cactorum sp. nov. were found in decaying columnar cacti in Peru, while those of M. yucatense sp. nov. in a rot-hole of a Ceiba pentandra stump. Obtained results on both taxonomy and biology of these species serve as a first step towards a revision of the entire genus.

Keywords

• DNA analysis
• identification key
• male genitalia
• neotropical syrphids
• puparia
• SEM imaging