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1. Pollinators play a crucial role in ecosystems globally, ensuring the seed production of most flowering plants. They are threatened by global changes and knowledge of their distribution at the national and continental levels is needed to implement efficient conservation actions, but this knowledge is still fragmented and/or difficult to access. 2. As a step forward, we provide an updated list of around 3000 European bee and hoverfly species, reflecting their current distributional status at the national level (in the form of present, absent, regionally extinct, possibly extinct or non-native). This work was attainable by incorporating both published and unpublished data, as well as knowledge from a large set of taxonomists and ecologists in both groups. 3. After providing the first National species lists for bees and hoverflies for many countries, we examine the current distributional patterns of these species and designate the countries with highest levels of species richness. We also show that many species are recorded in a single European country, highlighting the importance of articulating European and national conservation strategies. 4. Finally, we discuss how the data provided here can be combined with future trait and Red List data to implement research that will further advance pollinator conservation.

Detection of morphologically indistinguishable cryptic species implies using an integrative taxonomic approach with a combination of molecular, contemporary morphological, ecological and other relevant analyses. Within a contemporary morphological analysis, two approaches are commonly used in hoverfly taxonomy: a geometric morphometric analysis of the wing and surstyle shape. Here, the importance of the R4+5 vein shape is tested in cryptic species delimitation within four Merodon species groups using linear and semilandmark geometric morphometric analyses. As expected, geometric morphometrics showed a stronger resolution compared to linear morphometrics. Linear morphometrics failed to detect differences related to sexual dimorphism or differences among the species M. pruni and M. obscurus. However, all cryptic species and sexes were separated with high significance based on the R4+5 vein shape. Moreover, obtained results concurred with the landmark-defined wing shape and molecular results published in previous studies. Additionally, combining two characters, the semilandmark R4+5 vein shape and the landmark-defined wing shape, provided more detailed and precise insights into the shape differences. Our results showed that the R4+5 vein shape stands out as an important character in species delimitation of hoverflies where the sinuation of this vein is present. Therefore, it can be beneficial as a single character or in combination with a landmark-based wing shape analysis.

Pollinators play a crucial role in ecosystems globally, ensuring the seed production of most flowering plants. They are threatened by global changes and knowledge of their distribution at the national and continental levels is needed to implement efficient conservation actions, but this knowledge is still fragmented and/or difficult to access. As a step forward, we provide an updated list of around 3000 European bee and hoverfly species, reflecting their current distributional status at the national level (in the form of present, absent, regionally extinct, possibly extinct or non-native). This work was attainable by incorporating both published and unpublished data, as well as knowledge from a large set of taxonomists and ecologists in both groups. After providing the first National species lists for bees and hoverflies for many countries, we examine the current distributional patterns of these species and designate the countries with highest levels of species richness. We also show that many species are recorded in a single European country, highlighting the importance of articulating European and national conservation strategies. Finally, we discuss how the data provided here can be combined with future trait and Red List data to implement research that will further advance pollinator conservation., Pollinators play a crucial role in ecosystems globally, ensuring the seed production of most flowering plants. They are threatened by global changes and knowledge of their distribution at the national and continental levels is needed to implement efficient conservation actions, but this knowledge is still fragmented and/or difficult to access. As a step forward, we provide an updated list of around 3000 European bee and hoverfly species, reflecting their current distributional status at the national level (in the form of present, absent, regionally extinct, possibly extinct or non-native). This work was attainable by incorporating both published and unpublished data, as well as knowledge from a large set of taxonomists and ecologists in both groups. After providing the first National species lists for bees and hoverflies for many countries, we examine the current distributional patterns of these species and designate the countries with highest levels of species richness. We also show that many species are recorded in a single European country, highlighting the importance of articulating European and national conservation strategies. Finally, we discuss how the data provided here can be combined with future trait and Red List data to implement research that will further advance pollinator conservation.

The Heterogynidae are a small family of moths consisting of a single genus Heterogynis and sixteen described species distributed in the Mediterranean region. A species new to science, Heterogynis serbica sp. nov., is described from the locality of Srebrenac, Mt. Kopaonik, Republic of Serbia, Balkan Peninsula, by applying an integrative taxonomic approach using morpho-anatomical characteristics, wing morphometics and DNA barcoding. Male genitalia, scanning electron micrographs of adult male head anatomy, abdominal tergites/sternites, cocoons and habitats of the closely related species H. serbica sp. nov. and H. zikici are discussed and illustrated. Photographs of adult males and females, cocoons, plants in which the cocoons were found and habitats are shown. Importantly, marked differences in genital structure and other morphological characters were noted. These differences were confirmed with forewing morphometrics and COI-based DNA barcoding results. Additionally, DNA barcodes for H. serbica sp. nov. and H. zikici were compared against previously available data for the genus to evaluate the phylogenetic relationships. We conclude that deep, previously unknown and unexpected intrageneric morphological diversity exists in the genus Heterogynis.

Merodon capi Vujić et Radenković, 2020 and Merodon roni Radenković et Vujić, 2020 are two cryptic species belonging to the Merodon planifacies Bezzi, 1915 species complex that have recently been described, with the differences between them being revealed by molecular and geometric morphometry studies of adult specimens. In the present study, the preimaginal morphology of both species is described and displayed, with the material used corresponding to samples taken from bulbs of Merwilla plumbea (Lindl.) Speta plants at two locations in KwaZulu-Natal province (South Africa). The preimaginal stages were compared, looking for morphological evidence supporting species divergence. Linear and geometric morphometric analyses of the larval posterior respiratory process were conducted for the first time and the results of these analyses support the separation of the two taxa. Information about the life cycle and the relation with the host plant is also provided. In addition, we carried out a preliminary study of the adult feeding requirements of the species, based on the description of the mouthparts and an analysis of the pollen present in the gut and on the integument of adults. The results of the study supports a close relationship between the preimaginal stages and plant species of the Hyacinthaceae family.

Rod Paragus je široko rasprostranjen, nalazi se na svim kontinentima izuzev Antarktika i Južne Amerike. Pripada potfamiliji Syrphinae i jedini je predstavnik tribusa Paragini. Rod se deli na četiri podroda: Afroparagus, Serratoparagus, Paragus i Pandasyopthalmus. Adulti se prepoznaju po žutom licu, razvijenom tergitu 1, kao i nesegmentisanom edeagusu genitalnog aparata, dok njihove larve se hrane afidama. Cilj ove teze je bio da se odredi tačan broj validnih vrsta ovog roda rešavanjem taksonomskih i nomenklaturnih problema, kao i analiza distribucije vrsta. Kao rezultat ove teze utvrđeno je da je autor tribusa Paragini je Glumac, koji je prvi definisao tribus, a ne Goffe kako se do sada smatralo, takođe i postojanje 98 validnih vrsta roda Paragus: dve iz podroda Afroparagus, devet vrsta i jedna podvrsta Serratoparagus, 51 vrsta podroda Paragus i 36 vrsta podroda Pandasyopthalmus. Taksonomski status vrste P. ambalaensis i P. hokusankoensis je ostao nerazjašnjen usled nemogućnosti provere tipskog materijala. Za devet vrsta je ustanovljeno da su mlađi sinonimi: Paragus cooksoni syn. nov. (sinonim vrste P. basilewskyi), P. hanzhongensis syn. nov. (sinonim vrste P. clausseni), P. hyalopteri syn. nov. (sinonim vrste P. xinyuanensis), P. jiuchiensis syn. nov. (sinonim vrste P. clausseni), P. manensis syn. nov. (sinonim vrste P. basilewskyi), P. mongolicus syn. nov. (sinonim vrste P. tribuliparamerus), P. nigrocoerulea syn. nov. (sinonim vrste P. haemorrhous), P. sinicus syn. nov. (sinonim vrste P. fasciatus), P. tibialis var. nasutus syn. nov. (sinonim vrste P. haemorrhous). Jako značajan rezultat ove disertacije je ključ za identifikaciju vrsta roda Paragus. Geometrijskomorfometrijskom analizom oblika krila i surstila potvrđen je postojanje četiri validne vrste unutar Paragus bicolor kompleksa: P. bicolor i P. testaceus, P. aff. bicolor i P. aff. testaceus. Otkrivene su dve nove vrste za nauku unutar P. bicolor kompleksa: P. aff. bicolor i P. aff. testaceus. Dobijeni su n, Genus Paragus is widely distributed. It can found on all continents except Antarctica and South America. It belongs to the subfamily Syrphinae, and is the sole genus of the Paragini tribe. Paragus is divided into four subgenera: Afroparagus, Serratoparagus, Paragus and Pandasyopthalmus. Adults can recognize by their yellow face, developed tergite 1, as well as unsegmented edeagus of the genitalia, while their larvae are aphid predators. The main aim of this doctoral dissertation was to determine the exact number of valid species of this genus by solving taxonomic and nomenclature problems, as well as to analyze the distribution of these species. As a result of this thesis, it was established that the author of the tribe Paragini should be Glumac, who defined the tribe for the first time and not Goffe as previously thought. Existence of 98 valid species of this genus was confirmed: two from the subgenus Afroparagus, nine species and one subspecies from subgenus Serratoparagus, 51 species of the subgenus Paragus and 36 species of the subgenus Pandasyopthalmus. The taxonomic status of P. ambalaensis and P. hokusankoensis remained unresolved, due to the impossibility of examining the type material of these species. Nine species are proposed as junior synonyms: Paragus cooksoni syn. nov. (junior synonym of P. basilewskyi), P. hanzhongensis syn. nov. (junior synonym of P. clausseni), P. hyalopteri syn. nov. (junior synonym of P. xinyuanensis), P. jiuchiensis syn. nov. (junior synonym of P. clausseni), P. manensis syn. nov. (junior synonym of P. basilewskyi), P. mongolicus syn. nov. (junior synonym of P. tribuliparamerus), P. nigrocoerulea syn. nov. (junior synonym of P. haemorrhous), P. sinicus syn. nov. (junior synonym of P. fasciatus), P. tibialis var. nasutus syn. nov. (junior synonym of P. haemorrhous). A key is presented for identifying species of the genus Paragus. Wing and surstilus geometric-morph

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.