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ABSTRACTHoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) pollinate plants, predate other insects, and feed on vegetal and decay materials, being used as bioindicators of different ecosystem conditions and processes. The main aim is to enhance the bioindicator potential of hoverflies in Algeria by increasing our knowledge on the hoverfly communities of different environments in the semi-arid Northeast of Algeria: unpolluted riverbank, plant nursery, polluted riverbank, olive orchard (Olea europaea), prickly pear plantations (Opuntia ficus-indica), and a cypress hedge (Cupressus sempervirens). With an entomological net, hoverflies were sampled fortnightly from December 2016 to November 2017. In total 37 species were identified. The unpolluted and polluted riverbanks and the plant nursery had the highest species richness with 26, 24, and 23 species respectively, whereas, the lowest species numbers were detected in the prickly pear plantations, the cypress hedge and the olive orchard with 16, 14, and 10 species respectively. One species was new to North Africa (Eumerus etnensis), whereas four species were recorded for the first time in Algeria (Eumerus obliquus, Eupeodes nuba, Paragus vandergootiand Platycheirus ambiguus). Examined material also contributes to better understand each species phenology in Algeria.

AbstractExamination of 122 specimens of XanthogrammaSchiner, 1861 (Diptera: Syrphidae) from varied localities in Europe (+Turkey) resulted in the description of two new species (X. aeginaeRicarte, Nedeljković, and Vujić new speciesand X. pilosumNedeljković, Ricarte, and Vujić new species), as well as new data on six other species. Most of the examined material originated from the Balkan Peninsula and Greek islands. New species concepts were supported by morphological and molecular evidence. Relationships among the eight studied species were analysed and discussed based on the data of nuclear (ITS2) and mitochondrial (COI) genes sequences. An identification key to the European species of Xanthogrammais provided. Lectotypes are designated for Doros decoratumZetterstedt, 1843, Lasiophthicus novusRondani, 1857, Syrphus laetusFabricius, 1794, Syrphus ornatusMeigen, 1822, and Xanthogramma nobilitatumFrey, 1946.

SummaryA survey of the hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) of the region of Guelma, northeast Algeria, was carried out from August 2011 to  July 2013. A total of 31 species was recorded with six (Scaeva mecogramma, Epistrophe melanostoma, Syrphus vitripennis, Brachypalpus valgus, Merodon calcaratusand M. chalybeus) new to Algeria. Of these, three species (E. melanostoma, M. calcaratus andM. chalybeus) are also new additions to the entomofauna of North Africa. The results complement those of a previous study covering Numidia and Tebessa and provide a more comprehensive view of the phenology and distribution of Syrphidae across northeast Algeria. An improved knowledge of the distribution of North African hoverflies will contribute to a better assessment of the status of each taxon and inform conservation efforts.

AbstractStudy of specimens of MerodonMeigen collected in southwestern Europe resulted in new data and taxonomic changes for this genus. The cryptic species Merodon confusussp. nov.(Merodon equestrisspecies group) is described based on specimens collected in Caba?eros National Park, central Spain. Morphological and molecular diagnostic characters are provided to separate members of the species group. Merodon aeneus fulvusGil Collado is proposed as a junior synonym of Merodon pumilusMacquart. The first Iberian record of Merodon rufusMeigen is reported and updates of the revision of Iberian Merodonare provided.

AbstractThe Old World syrphid genus MerodonMeigen 1803 is highly species-diverse and has a significant number of endemic species in the circum-Mediterranean area. The present study reports on taxonomic changes resulting from the examination of adult Merodonspecimens collected in 15 Turkish provinces during the period 1992 to 2002, and provides new faunistic data. Merodon ilgazensen. sp. is described. Four species of Merodonnew to Turkey are recorded: M. armipesRondani 1843, M. auronitesHurkmans 1993, M. bessarabicusParamonov 1924 and M. chalybeatusSack 1913. Lectotypes are designated for two taxa: M. chalybeatusSack 1913 and M. clunipesSack 1913. Merodon italicusRondani 1845 rev. stat. is reinstated as a valid species. Following a detailed study of the type material in different entomological collections, the status of 10 taxa is revised and five new synonymies are proposed: M. albonigrumVuji Radenkovi & S˘imi 1996 n. syn. (=junior synonym of M. chalybeatusSack 1913); M. alexejiParamonov 1925 n. syn. (=junior synonym of M. serrulatusWiedemann inMeigen 1822); M. aureotibiaHurkmans 1993 n. syn. (=junior synonym of M. vandergootiHurkmans 1993); M. kalocerosHurkmans 1993 n. syn. (=junior synonym of M. erivanicusParamonov 1925); M. longicornisSack 1913 n. syn. (=junior synonym of M. italicusRondani 1845).