Towards an integrated taxonomy of the Merodon equestris species complex (Diptera: Syrphidae) including description of a new species, with additional data on Iberian Merodon

Study of specimens of Merodon Meigen collected in southwestern Europe resulted in new data and taxonomic changes for this genus. The cryptic species Merodon confusus sp. nov. (Merodon equestris species group) is described based on specimens collected in Cabañeros National Park, central Spain. Morphological and molecular diagnostic characters are provided to separate members of the species group. Merodon aeneus fulvus Gil Collado is proposed as a junior synonym of Merodon pumilus Macquart. The first Iberian record of Merodon rufus Meigen is reported and updates of the revision of Iberian Merodon are provided.

This research was partially financed by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (projects CGL2008-04472, CGL2009-09656-BOS), the Ministry of Science and Technological Development of Republic of Serbia (project number: 173002), the Provincial Ministry of Science and Technological Development, Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Republic of Serbia (project: Genetic diversity of agricultural ecosystems), and the European Union (project Life/NAT/E/000762).