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The taxonomy of Merodon dobrogensis Bradescu, 1982 (Diptera: Syrphidae) species subgroup was reviewed. Multiple data sources (morphology, geometric morphometry of wings and surstylus, molecular data, and distributional data) were used to investigate the species subgroup in the manner of integrative taxonomy. Merodon dobrogensis Bradescu, 1982 and M. puniceus Vujić, Radenković, and Pérez-Bañón, 2011 are supported as distinct species belonging to the M. dobrogensis species complex within the M. dobrogensis species subgroup. Additionally, evidence is presented for the description of a new species, M. rojoi Radenković and Vujić new species, with a distribution in mainland Greece, the Greek island Euboea, and the Peloponnese. A short diagnosis is provided for the M. aureus species group, the M. dobrogensis species subgroup, and the newly defined M. dobrogensis species complex, in addition to a description of the new species, with drawings and photographs of adult morphology.

Pre-imaginal morphology of the flower fly species Graptomyza signata (Walker) is described and figured in detail based on specimens collected on a decomposed Aloe-like plant in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. Third-instar larva is described for the first time and the puparium morphology is re-described using both light (optical) and electron microscopy. The present work represents the second larval description for a species of the genus Graptomyza, after the description of the larva of G. alabeta Séguy. The immatures of these two Graptomyza species were examined and compared to the pre-imaginal stages of the other members of the tribe Volucellini, pointing out the possible diagnostic characters of the genus Graptomyza. Moreover, new DNA barcodes are provided for G. signata and deposited in the NCBI GenBank. The study was funded by the project of the European Union: Horizon 2020, Marie Skłodowska-Curie action, Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) Programme: FlyHigh – “Insect-plant relationships: insights into biodiversity and new applications”.

Abstract Merodon natans group (Diptera, Syrphidae) taxa are reviewed using an integrative taxonomic approach combining morphological, morphometric and molecular techniques. The approach substantiates recognition of the three species: M. calcaratus (Fabricius, 1794), M. natans (Fabricius, 1794) and M. pulveris Vujić & Radenković in Radenković et al. 2011, and reveals the existence of a new species, M. makrisi Vujić, Radenković & Tot sp. nov., which is described. It also highlights the existence of a series of natans group populations, especially on some of the Mediterranean islands, in the Levant and in the Afrotropical Region, for which more comprehensive data are required to clarify their status. A key is provided to the natans lineage species currently recognised, and preimaginal stages of some natans-group species are described for the first time. Redescriptions for M. calcaratus and M. natans are provided. A neotype is selected for M. natans. Lectotypes are designated for M. annulatus (Fabricius, 1794) and M. melancholicus (Fabricius, 1794). Merodon annulatus is recognised as a synonym of M. natans.

© 2018 The Linnean Society of London. For the first time in more than 30 years, a new European hoverfly genus has been discovered, Katara gen. nov. Its type species Katara connexa sp. nov. (Diptera: Syrphidae) is described from the Pindos Mountains (Greece), and the systematic position of the monotypic taxon within the tribe Rhingiini is analysed using morphological and molecular data. Phylogenetic analyses resolved Katara connexa gen. et sp. nov. as sister taxon to Pelecocera latifrons. We assert based on the molecular phylogenetic results and the morphological distinctness of Pelecocera latifrons that this taxon merits a generic rank, thus we erect the genus Pseudopelecocera gen. nov. and also place Pelecocera persiana in this new genus based on shared characteristics. Based on our results, we place Chamaesyrphus in subgeneric rank and as a sister group to the nominal subgenus Pelecocera. We provide an identification key to the Rhingiini genera. Our phylogenetic analyses recovered all speciose Rhingiini genera as monophyletic and support existence of three main lineages within the tribe: (1) genus Rhingia with two groups, Palaearctic+Neotropical and Afrotropical taxa, (2) genus Cheilosia with its subgenera, and (3) lineage with remaining genera (Pseudopelecocera gen. nov., Katara gen. nov., Ferdinandea, Psarochilosia, Psarus, Portevinia and Pelecocera).

Greece hosts a highly diverse hoverfly fauna. The high diversity in this area arises primarily due to its position in the Mediterranean region, which is located at the junction of Europe, Asia and Africa and acts as a transition zone between three major bio?geographic regions. Sites with the richest hoverfly fauna in Greece are mostly protected. Species richness in selected protected areas were estimated using biodiversity indices. Accord?ing to the results, the most important categories for conservation and survival of hoverfly populations in Greece are national parks and Ramsar sites.

Biodiversity has strongly declined throughout the world mainly due to human activities. Thus, standardized indicators are needed more than ever before to effec?tively monitor anthropogenic disturbance and its impact on ecosystems. In this study, hov?erfly species of two largest phytophagous genera (Cheilosia and Merodon) were chosen as bioindicators to assess the quality of 15 sites located in Serbia; in or around mountains Fruska Gora, Kopaonik, Stara Planina, Dubasnica and Pcinja region. Sufficiently close associations with particular habitats (each having its own characteristic assemblage) make phytophagous hoverflies perfect candidates for such a role. Syrph the Net database was used as a useful tool for assessing quality of habitats and detecting differences between them.

In this study, we investigated 3,086 adult specimens (974 females and 2,112 males) of the genus Paragus collected in the period 1950-2017 and deposited in the collections of the Department of Biology and Ecology, University of Novi Sad (FSUNS). All four subgenera of Paragus are present in the FSUNS collection. We provide data on 59 species, most of which belong to the subgenus Paragus (37), followed by Pandasyopthalmus (16), Serratoparagus (5) and Afroparagus (1). We conclude that some taxa of this genus require revision because of unresolved taxonomic problems.

A checklist of the family Syrphidae (Diptera) of Serbia is provided in this paper. A total of 412 species and subspecies from 83 genera are reported. Moreover, three species are recorded for the first time from Serbia.

Pollination is a required process for survival of numerous plant species and crops. Hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) play a significant role in this phenomenon. Due to raising environmental pressures, pollinator diversity and pollination services are at risk. Faunistic studies and biodiversity research are the essential elements and steps in the process of species preservation. This study aimed to analyze diversity of hoverflies in two CORINE land cover types (Broad-leaved forest and Natural grasslands), based on a recent one-year study. To achieve this goal, Shannon?s diversity index (H), Shannon?s equitability (EH), and Jaccard similarity coefficient (Jt) were calculated. Values of indices and coefficients indicate which parts of Vojvodina and what land cover types can be considered as hoverfly reservoirs.

In this research, we applied integrative taxonomy approach in order to delimit species of Merodon caerulescens species complex. Molecular analyses confirmed COI sequence divergence between the Rhodes and Crete populations. Additionally, ITS2 sequences show certain differences which should be additionally tested. 28S rRNA gene sequences once again proved to be too conserved for closely related species delimitation. Geometric morphometry results indicate differences in wings shape between males and females of the two islands populations. Additionally, subtle differences between the two populations in the body coverage and colouration of hairs are also observed. Thus, based on the all presented evidence we concluded that taxon Merodon caerulescens is a complex of two species, M. caerulescens (Rhodes) and M. atricapillatus sp. n. (Crete).

Responses of hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) to climate change remain mostly unexplored. Here, for the first time, we investigate the impact of climate change on both presence/absence and abundances of hoverfly species. We used generalized linear models to analyse the relationships of climatic and soil variables with the occurrence and abundance of Cheilosia species on the Balkan Peninsula. Our results show that the ranges of all and the abundances of many species are projected to decrease in the future. Climatically suitable conditions for mountainous species are predicted to generally shift northwards. Species adapted to high mountains are projected to almost vanish from the Balkans and only regions of the Alps would remain suitable for them. We found climatic variables were more important in determining abundance than occurrence. Given that environmental factors differed in terms of their impact on abundance and occurrence, we highlight the importance of monitoring both parameters to ensure effective conservation. Considering the different projected responses of hoverflies to future climate change, as well as their value as pollinators and the increasing threats they currently face, knowledge on their responses to the major drivers of their life-histories is indispensable for proper management and conservation action. We reveal that nationally-designated protected areas are insufficient to conserve the species considered here, both currently and under projected climate change. We recommend implementation of an integrated conservation management plan that can provide a continuum of protected areas along the Dinaric mountain chain to facilitate movement of species to enhance species survival.

Hoverflies are a valuable group of species in need of conservation and monitoring, due to their large contribution to pollination, biological control, and role as indicators of ecosystem change. Though hoverflies are a well-known group of insects, there has been little documentation of their current conservation status. Using long-term hoverfly monitoring data, this study reports on their prevalence in Serbia and presents priority areas for their conservation. An expert-generated, criteria-driven approach was used to identify core areas for conservation of hoverflies, named Prime Hoverfly Areas (PHA); 34% of the identified area lies outside of a national protection area (NPA) network. A systematic conservation approach (gap and irreplaceability analysis) was then applied to evaluate: 1) sufficiency of the NPA for hoverfly conservation, and 2) degree of improvement in hoverfly conservation conferred by the expert-generated PHA network. The networks were evaluated for the achievement of predefined representation targets for each of the 155 hoverfly species identified as important for conservation. We found that the NPA network is insufficient, as it does not cover the ranges of 18% of considered species. The area of the proposed PHA outside of the NPA is small (1.36% of the national territory), but its protection would greatly improve hoverfly conservation by increasing the inclusion of hoverfly habitats for previously unprotected species and by including hoverfly biodiversity hot spots. The suggested PHA network was then compared to a similarly designed habitat network aimed to conserve butterflies. There was partial overlap between the two networks, highlighting the importance of considering multiple groups in planning comprehensive conservation strategies for pollinators.

We investigated the phylogeographic patterns of Merodon species (Diptera, Syrphidae) in the Eastern Mediterranean. Ten species were sampled on five different islands and mainland sites as a minimum. All samples were screened for their mtDNA COI barcode haplotype diversity, and for some samples, we additionally generated genomic fingerprints. The recently established zoogeographic distribution categories classify these species as having (1) Balkan distribution; (2) Anatolian distribution; (3) continental areas and large islands distribution; and (4) with wide distribution. The ancestral haplotypes and their geographical localities were estimated with statistical parsimony (TCS). TCS networks identified as the ancestral haplotype samples that originated from localities situated within the distributional category of the species in question. Strong geographical haplotype structuring was detected for many Merodon species. We were particularly interested to test the relative importance of current (Aegean Sea) and past Mid-Aegean Trench) barriers to dispersal for Merodon flies in the Aegean. We employed phylogenetic β-diversity (Pβtotal) and its partition in replacement (Pβrepl) and richness difference (Pβrich) to test the importance of each explanatory variable (interisland distance, MAT, and island area) in interisland differences using partial Mantel tests and hierarchical partitioning of variation. β-Analyses confirmed the importance of both current and past barriers to dispersal on the evolution of group. Current interisland distance was particularly important to explain the replacement of haplotypes, while the MAT was driving differences in richness of haplotypes, revealing the MAT as a strong past barrier whose effects are still visible today in the phylogenetic history of the clade in the Aegean. These results support the hypothesis of a highly restricted dispersal and gene flow among Merodon populations between islands since late Pleistocene. Additionally, patterns of phylogeographic structure deduced from haplotype connections and ISSR genome fingerprinting data revealed a few putative cases of human-mediated transfers of Merodon spp. This research has been co-financed by the European Union (European Social Fund – ESF) and Greek national funds through the Operational Program “Education and Lifelong Learning” of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) – Research Funding Program: THALES. Investing in knowledge society through the European Social Fund,” and Carl Cedercreutz Foundation, Helsinki, Finland.

A list of 25 species of the genus Eumerus Meigen (Diptera: Syrphidae) from the eastern Mediterranean islands is presented. Descriptions are given for three new species: Eumerus aurofinis Grković, Vujić & Radenković n. sp. from Lesvos, Samos, Rhodes islands (Greece) and Bozdağ mountain (Turkey), E. torsicus Grković & Vujić n. sp. from Chios Island (Greece) and Cyprus; E. crassus Grković, Vujić & Radenković n. sp. from Lesvos Island (Greece). In addition to classical morphological characters, mitochondrial COI barcode sequences were generated for several specimens of two available taxa. The status of Eumerus alpinus Rondani, 1857 is revised, and the taxon is resurrected from synonymy of E. olivaceus Loew, 1848. The zoogeographical significance of the described endemic taxa to the biodiversity of the Aegean islands is discussed.

The revision of the saproxylic hoverflies collected in Serbia from 1950 to 2010 has revealed a total of 56 species, of which Sphiximorpha subsessilis (Illiger in Rossi) is new to the Balkan Peninsula and Arctophila superbiens (Muller), Blera fallax (Linnaeus), Brachyopa panzeri Goffe, Brachyopa testacea (Fallen), Brachyopa vittata Zetterstedt and Chalcosyrphus piger (Fabricius) are new to Serbia. According to “Syrph the Net, the database of European Syrphidae”, 16 of the 56 species are threatened with extinction in Europe, while 6 species are “strictly protected” and 13 are “protected” under Serbian legislation. Distribution maps for each species, as well as new data on adult habitats, are provided. The conservation status of the saproxylic hoverflies of Serbia is discussed. The present study attempts to provide a basis for the conservation of the saproxylic hoverflies of this Balkan country.

DNA barcoding has become a useful system for linking different biological life stages, and for identification of species within a known taxonomic framework. In this study, we generated mitochondrial DNA COI barcodes using adult specimens of all 22 species of the hoverfly genus Merodon (Diptera, Syrphidae) occurring on Lesvos island (Greece). The generated COI barcodes could well discriminate between all Merodon taxa of Lesvos, except for M. loewi and M. papillus that shared the same haplotype, despite their clear morphological differences. In addition, the barcodes revealed two cases of hitherto unknown morphologically cryptic species close to M. avidus and M. nigritarsis, respectively. Because only few successful rearings of immature stages of Merodon hoverflies are available, the larval host plant remains unknown for these phytophagous taxa. The obtained COI barcode library for the Merodon spp. of Lesvos will constitute a tool to link any unknown immature stages with already known species, and thus provide important life-history information and promise for ecological studies.

An on-going study of the hoverfly fauna of the Northern Aegean Islands (Greece) has revealed the presence of four species of the genus Brachyopa Meigen. During the survey the following species were found: B. bicolor (Fallen), B. quadrimaculosa Thompson in Kaplan & Thompson, B. minima Vujic & Perez-Banon sp. nov. and an unidentified species very close to B. pilosa (Collin). Morphological characters and mitochondrial COI barcodes were used to link different life stages of B. minima , and to identify a larval specimen of B. bicolor . In this study adult and larval morphology and habitat preferences for B. minima are described. The description of larval morphology of B. bicolor and Brachyopa sp. aff. pilosa is amended too . An identification key to the adults of the B. quadrimaculosa group sensu Kassebeer (2002) in the Eastern Mediterranean (Greece, Israel and Turkey) is provided. The importance of specific microhabitats for the continued existence of these taxa is discussed.

Descriptions are given of two new species of Merodon Meigen (Diptera: Syrphidae) from the island of Lesvos (Greece): Merodon papillus Vujić, Radenkovic & Pérez-Bañón n. sp. from the ruficornis group species and Merodon sapphous Vujic, Pérez-Bañón & Radenkovic n. sp. from the aureus group. In addition to classical morphological characters, partial sequences of the mitochondrial COI gene are generated for each taxon as DNA ‘barcodes’. Main characteristics of the species habitats are reported. The zoogeographical significance of these endemic taxa to the biodiversity of the island is discussed. European Commission Framework 6 Integrated project ALARM (Assessing LArge scale environmental Risks for biodiversity with tested Methods) (GOCE-CT-2003-506675) & Ministry of Science, Technology and Development of Republic Serbia (project number 143037).