taxonID	type	description	language	source
407D4E8119E951E0ABF7A7C9750FEE2F.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Morphological features such as a large fossette (Fig. 2 E) and golden erect pile on terga in male (Fig. 7 A); position of fossette close to base of arista (Fig. 2 I: f); and dense white pile on eyes in both sexes separate this species from other species of the Merodon natans group.	en	Vujic, Ante, Tot, Tamara, Andric, Andrijana, Acanski, Jelena, Sasic Zoric, Ljiljana, Perez-Banon, Celeste, Aracil, Andrea, Veselic, Sanja, Arok, Maja, Mengual, Ximo, van Eck, Andre, Rojo, Santos, Radenkovic, Snezana (2021): Review of the Merodon natans group with description of a new species, a key to the adults of known species of the natans lineage and first descriptions of some preimaginal stages. Arthropod Systematics & amp; Phylogeny 79: 343-378, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/asp.79.e65861, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/asp.79.e65861
407D4E8119E951E0ABF7A7C9750FEE2F.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the personal name Makris (a noun in genitive case). The species is dedicated to Christodoulos Makris, who collected the main part of the type series of the new species. He is an excellent observer, ecologist, photographer and author of Cyprus wildlife, insects and plants.	en	Vujic, Ante, Tot, Tamara, Andric, Andrijana, Acanski, Jelena, Sasic Zoric, Ljiljana, Perez-Banon, Celeste, Aracil, Andrea, Veselic, Sanja, Arok, Maja, Mengual, Ximo, van Eck, Andre, Rojo, Santos, Radenkovic, Snezana (2021): Review of the Merodon natans group with description of a new species, a key to the adults of known species of the natans lineage and first descriptions of some preimaginal stages. Arthropod Systematics & amp; Phylogeny 79: 343-378, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/asp.79.e65861, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/asp.79.e65861
407D4E8119E951E0ABF7A7C9750FEE2F.taxon	biology_ecology	Biology. In Cyprus, this species is commonly found on or near calcareous soils in rocky habitats with bulbs and orchids, around patches with open vegetation (Fig. 7 C). Besides Prospero autumnale, flowers and plants such as Narcissus sp., Cistus sp., Colchicum troodi Kotschy, Juniperus sp., Pistacia sp., Asphodelus ramosus L., Drimia aphylla (Forssk.) J. C. Manning & Goldblatt are found here, as well as Pinus brutia Ten. as the dominant tree. The fly is most abundant at lower altitudes up to about 200 m a. s. l., but also found higher up in the mountains. Flies found higher up (740 m a. s. l.), fly around swiftly, and often rest on low vegetation or on the ground. Flower visits have been observed on Prospero autumnale. Flight period is in Autumn (October / November). The puparium was found in Prospero autumnale and described here. On 7 Feb. 2016 bulbs of P. autumnale were collected (Fig. 7 C) and reared at ambient temperature. One adult male emerged on 21 Oct. 2016. The puparium remained in the bulb (Fig. 9 A, B). Figure 8. Merodon makrisi Vujic, Radenkovic & Tot sp. nov. male genitalia, Cyprus. A epandrium B left surstyle C, E hypandrium D aedeagus and associated structures; A, C, D lateral view B, E ventral view. Abbreviations: a - anterior surstyle lobe, aa - aedeagal apodeme, ae - aedeagus, c - cercus, ea - ejaculatory apodeme, la - lateral sclerite of aedeagus, n - notch on theca to which is attached the aedeagal apodeme, p - posterior surstyle lobe, v - triangular prominence on ventral margin of posterior surstyle lobe. Scale bar: 0.2 mm. Figure 9. Bulb of Prospero autumnale (A, B), from which one male specimen of Merodon makrisi Vujic, Radenkovic & Tot sp. nov. was reared. Photo: A. van Eck. Figure 10. Epandrium, lateral view. A, B Merodon natans C M. pulveris D M. makrisi Vujic, Radenkovic & Tot sp. nov. Abbreviation: v - triangular prominence on ventral margin of posterior surstyle lobe; A Greece (Achaia) B Montenegro C Greece (Rhodes) D Cyprus. Scale bar: 0.2 mm.	en	Vujic, Ante, Tot, Tamara, Andric, Andrijana, Acanski, Jelena, Sasic Zoric, Ljiljana, Perez-Banon, Celeste, Aracil, Andrea, Veselic, Sanja, Arok, Maja, Mengual, Ximo, van Eck, Andre, Rojo, Santos, Radenkovic, Snezana (2021): Review of the Merodon natans group with description of a new species, a key to the adults of known species of the natans lineage and first descriptions of some preimaginal stages. Arthropod Systematics & amp; Phylogeny 79: 343-378, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/asp.79.e65861, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/asp.79.e65861
74650EE2F31958A8BCA9E9D05610C6E6.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Merodon natans is a medium sized species (8 - 12 mm), which can be easily distinguished from M. calcaratus by its longer antenna (Fig. 2 A, B), broader metafemur in both sexes (Fig. 4 A, B) and the large, rounded posterior surstyle lobe of the male genitalia (Fig. 10 A, B) (in M. calcaratus posterior surstyle lobe narrow, fingerlike (Fig. 5 A-G )). Morphologically it is closely related to M. makrisi sp. nov. and M. pulveris. Males of these species can be distinguished by the structure of the male terminalia: ventral margin of posterior surstyle lobe without visible triangular prominence from lateral view, although present in some specimens, but it is small and visible only from ventral view in M. natans (Fig. 10 A, B) (ventral margin of posterior surstyle lobe with clearly visible triangular prominence present in M. makrisi sp. nov. (Figs 8 A: v, B: v, 10 D: v) and M. pulveris (Fig. 10 C: v )). Females of M. natans and M. pulveris are very similar, but the yellow pile, intermixed with some black pile on tarsomeres of proleg in M. natans can differentiate this species from M. pulveris (in M. pulveris tarsomeres of proleg covered with yellow pile only, except in some specimens with a very few black pile on the fifth tarsomere). Females of M. natans and M. makrisi sp. nov. can be separated based on the position of fossette, which is near the base of arista in M. makrisi sp. nov. (Fig. 2 E, I: f) (in M. natans fossette position medially between the base of the arista and apex of basofagellomere (Fig. 2 B, J: f )).	en	Vujic, Ante, Tot, Tamara, Andric, Andrijana, Acanski, Jelena, Sasic Zoric, Ljiljana, Perez-Banon, Celeste, Aracil, Andrea, Veselic, Sanja, Arok, Maja, Mengual, Ximo, van Eck, Andre, Rojo, Santos, Radenkovic, Snezana (2021): Review of the Merodon natans group with description of a new species, a key to the adults of known species of the natans lineage and first descriptions of some preimaginal stages. Arthropod Systematics & amp; Phylogeny 79: 343-378, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/asp.79.e65861, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/asp.79.e65861
74650EE2F31958A8BCA9E9D05610C6E6.taxon	biology_ecology	Biology. Preferred environments are forests with open ground; herb-rich open areas in thermophilous Quercus forest and phrygana with Cistus scrub; also in orchards in southern Europe (Speight 2020). Adults prefer open areas with tall herbs and scrub (Fig. 11 A, B, E), within dry woodland; a secretive species, as easily collected by use of Malaise traps as by direct observation (Speight 2020). Flowers visited include: Prospero autumnale (Fig. 11 C, D), Foeniculum sp., Mentha sp., Solidago sp., Drimia maritima. The flight period is in Spring (April / May) and Autumn (end August / beginning October). The puparium, described here, is found in the host plant Prospero autumnale in Serbia (Fig. 11 C, D).	en	Vujic, Ante, Tot, Tamara, Andric, Andrijana, Acanski, Jelena, Sasic Zoric, Ljiljana, Perez-Banon, Celeste, Aracil, Andrea, Veselic, Sanja, Arok, Maja, Mengual, Ximo, van Eck, Andre, Rojo, Santos, Radenkovic, Snezana (2021): Review of the Merodon natans group with description of a new species, a key to the adults of known species of the natans lineage and first descriptions of some preimaginal stages. Arthropod Systematics & amp; Phylogeny 79: 343-378, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/asp.79.e65861, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/asp.79.e65861
49DE2BFA3FB35AE8B1C1C4384F23609F.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Merodon pulveris is a medium sized species (11 - 12 mm). It can be separated from M. calcaratus by its longer antenna (Fig. 2 C, D), broader metafemur in both sexes (Fig. 4 C, D) and the large, rounded posterior surstyle lobe (Fig. 10 C) of the male genitalia (in M. calcaratus narrow, fingerlike; Fig. 5 A-G). Merodon pulveris is closely related to M. natans and M. makrisi sp. nov., but differs by the following characters of the male genitalia: ventral margin of posterior surstyle lobe with distinct triangular prominence (Fig. 10 C: v), in M. natans without visible triangular prominence from lateral view (Fig. 10 A, B), it can be present in some specimens, but it is small and visible only from ventral view (Fig. 10 A, B); posterior surstyle lobe broader and shorter (Fig. 10 C), narrower and more elongated in M. makrisi sp. nov. (Figs 8 A: p, B: p, 10 D). Fossette position medially between the base of the arista and apex of basoflagellomere distinguishes females of this species from M. makrisi sp. nov (in M. makrisi sp. nov position of fossette is near base of arista (Fig. 2 I: f )). From M. natans, females of M. pulveris can be separated by the presence of only yellow pile on the proleg tarsomeres, except in some specimens only, where the fifth tarsomere has sparse black pile (in M. natans proleg tarsomeres covered with yellow pile but also with some intermixed black pile). Figure 12. Merodon pulveris. A male on Drimia aphylla, in Cyprus, photo: C. Makris, 6 Oct. 2016 B female in Cyprus, photo: C. Makris, 20 Oct. 2013 C typical habitat in Agiassos (Lesvos, Greece) where M. pulveris can be collected, photo: D. Vujanovic.	en	Vujic, Ante, Tot, Tamara, Andric, Andrijana, Acanski, Jelena, Sasic Zoric, Ljiljana, Perez-Banon, Celeste, Aracil, Andrea, Veselic, Sanja, Arok, Maja, Mengual, Ximo, van Eck, Andre, Rojo, Santos, Radenkovic, Snezana (2021): Review of the Merodon natans group with description of a new species, a key to the adults of known species of the natans lineage and first descriptions of some preimaginal stages. Arthropod Systematics & amp; Phylogeny 79: 343-378, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/asp.79.e65861, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/asp.79.e65861
49DE2BFA3FB35AE8B1C1C4384F23609F.taxon	biology_ecology	Biology. Preferred environments (Fig. 12 C) are open areas in Eastern European maquis on limestone near coniferous forests with large populations of its host plant Prospero autumnale (Radenkovic et al. 2011). Flowers visited include: Foeniculum sp., Prospero autumnale (van Steenis et al. 2019), Drimia aphylla (Fig. 12 A). Flight period is in spring (April-May) and autumn (late September / mid October). The larva described here was found in Prospero autumnale on Lesvos island in Greece.	en	Vujic, Ante, Tot, Tamara, Andric, Andrijana, Acanski, Jelena, Sasic Zoric, Ljiljana, Perez-Banon, Celeste, Aracil, Andrea, Veselic, Sanja, Arok, Maja, Mengual, Ximo, van Eck, Andre, Rojo, Santos, Radenkovic, Snezana (2021): Review of the Merodon natans group with description of a new species, a key to the adults of known species of the natans lineage and first descriptions of some preimaginal stages. Arthropod Systematics & amp; Phylogeny 79: 343-378, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/asp.79.e65861, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/asp.79.e65861
18168F0E24675991B66C8D1973AD5A82.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Merodon calcaratus is a medium sized (8 - 11 mm) black species. It can be easily distinguished from other members of the M. natans group by its shorter antenna; curved dorsal margin of basoflagellomere; small fossette near apex of basoflagellomere (Fig. 2 G, H); narrow metafemur (Fig. 4 G, H); black tarsomeres; completely black tergum 2. Narrow, fingerlike posterior surstyle lobe of male genitalia (Fig. 5 A-G).	en	Vujic, Ante, Tot, Tamara, Andric, Andrijana, Acanski, Jelena, Sasic Zoric, Ljiljana, Perez-Banon, Celeste, Aracil, Andrea, Veselic, Sanja, Arok, Maja, Mengual, Ximo, van Eck, Andre, Rojo, Santos, Radenkovic, Snezana (2021): Review of the Merodon natans group with description of a new species, a key to the adults of known species of the natans lineage and first descriptions of some preimaginal stages. Arthropod Systematics & amp; Phylogeny 79: 343-378, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/asp.79.e65861, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/asp.79.e65861
18168F0E24675991B66C8D1973AD5A82.taxon	biology_ecology	Biology. The preferred environment of the species is semi-arid, sandy calcareous grasslands with scattered Pinus pinea L. in Portugal (van Eck 2016), thermophilic and ancient pastures of a limestone massif, also in Portugal (van Eck et al. 2020 a); and Pinus forest on low mountains in Morocco with large populations of potential host plant Prospero autumnale (Vujic A. pers. obs.). Flowers visited: Drimia maritima (L.) Stearn, in Portugal (van Eck 2016; van Eck et al. 2020 a) and Prospero autumnale in Morocco and Spain (Vujic A. pers. obs.). Flight period on the Iberian Peninsula and in North Africa is usually Autumn or exceptionally early spring (Algeria). Preimaginal stages are not described.	en	Vujic, Ante, Tot, Tamara, Andric, Andrijana, Acanski, Jelena, Sasic Zoric, Ljiljana, Perez-Banon, Celeste, Aracil, Andrea, Veselic, Sanja, Arok, Maja, Mengual, Ximo, van Eck, Andre, Rojo, Santos, Radenkovic, Snezana (2021): Review of the Merodon natans group with description of a new species, a key to the adults of known species of the natans lineage and first descriptions of some preimaginal stages. Arthropod Systematics & amp; Phylogeny 79: 343-378, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/asp.79.e65861, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/asp.79.e65861
