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Further revision of material from the Merodon ruficornis group (Diptera: Syrphidae) revealed three new species, M. acutus Vujić et Radenković sp. nov. from Russia, M. fulvitarsis Vujić et Radenković sp. nov. from Iran, and M. trispinus Vujić et Radenković sp. nov. from Turkey. We provide an upgraded and illustrated identification key for the species of the group, as well as distribution maps for the new species. Moreover, we describe the female of M. portschinskyi Stackelberg, 1924. These new descriptions extend the range of the M. ruficornis group in almost all directions and bolster the very high level of endemism previously observed within this group. Of the 21 taxa (including the three new species described herein), 15 are narrow-range endemics.

The Merodon ruficornis group Morphological diagnosis. The M. ruficornis group represents a morphologically distinct group of species with several synapomorphic characters, especially in the structure of male metaleg. Metatrochanter, metafemur and metatibia usually with tubercle, calcar or lamina in the male (as in Fig. 1). Male genitalia usually with characteristic hooklike posterior surstyle lobe (as in Fig. 2A: pl), biramous anterior surstyle lobe (as in Fig. 2A: al) with moderately developed interior accessory lobe (as in Fig. 2A: il) and apical extension (as in Fig. 2A marked with arrow), cercus without prominences (as in Fig. 2A: c), and lateral sclerite of the aedeagus hammer-like with oval margins (as in Fig. 9C: s). In females, tergum 4 usually with transversal depression (as in Fig. 3A: marked with arrow, 3B); terga dark, except tergum 2 with a pair of lateral red-orange maculae; terga 2–4 usually with a pair of white pollinose fasciate maculae; tergum 5 with two small lateral depressions (as in Fig. 3C: marked with arrow); vertex at the level of ocellar triangle shiny black (as in Fig. 3D) (Vujić et al. 2021a). Morphological description of males and females of the M. ruficornis group. Length. We use the following three categories to describe the general body size of the species: Small species 7–10 mm; medium-sized species 10–12 mm; large species 12–14 mm. MALE. Head (as in Figs 4A–C). Antenna (as in Fig. 4A) brown-orange, basoflagellomere 1.3 times as long as wide, 1.6 times longer than pedicel, concave dorsally, apex acute; arista basally pale and thickened, brown medially and dark brown apically, 1.5 times longer than basoflagellomere; covered with short, dense microscopic pile. Face and frons black, covered with long whitish-yellow pile and silver pollinosity. Oral margin shiny black, well protruded (as in Fig. 4A). Vertical triangle (as in Fig. 4B) isosceles, 2.5 times longer than eye contiguity, shiny black except in front of anterior ocellus white pollinose, covered with long whitish-yellow pile, except black pilose on ocellar triangle. Ocellar triangle (as in Fig. 4B) equilateral to slightly isosceles. Eye contiguity about 8–10 facets long (as in Fig. 4C). Eye pile as long as scape, pale. Occiput with whitish-yellow pile, along the eye margin dense, white pollinosity and posteriorly with metallic bluish-greenish lustre. Thorax. Mesonotum black with bronze lustre, covered with dense, erect, yellow pile, as long as basoflagellomere. Pleurae grey-green pollinose and the following parts with long yellow pilosity: anterior part of proepimeron, posterior part of anterior anepisternum, the larger part of posterior anepisternum except anterior end, anteroventral and posterodorsal part of katepisternum, anepimeron, metasternum; katatergum with dense, erect, short, light-brown pile. Wing hyaline, with dense, brown microtrichia. Calypter pale yellow. Halter with light brown pedicel and yellow capitulum (outer part dark). Femora dark brown to black, except usually paler apex; tibiae can be from completely dark to pale basally and apically; colour of tarsi variable. Metatrochanter (as in Fig. 1B: a) with calcar. Metafemur (as in Fig. 1B: b) thickened and curved, often with ventral tubercle (as in Fig. 1A: marked with arrow) in the basal 1/3 of its length. Metatibia (as in Fig. 1B: c) with apical lamina and/or spur(s). Abdomen (as in Figs 5A, C). Black with bronze reflections, slightly tapering, as long as mesonotum. Terga 2–4 black with more or less distinct pair of white pollinose fasciate maculae (absent in some species); tergum 2 with a pair of orange anterolateral maculae; pile on terga mainly erect and yellow, but terga 2–4 medially usually with some black pile. Sterna blackish-brown, covered with long, pale yellow pile. Genitalia. Posterior surstyle lobe rounded, pointed anteriorly (as in Fig. 2A: pl); margin of surstylus convex (as in Fig. 2A); anterior surstyle lobe with small interior accessory lobe (as in Fig. 2D: il); cercus oval or rectangular (as in Fig. 2A: c). Hypandrium with folded thecal ridge (as in Fig. 2C: marked with arrow). Lateral sclerite of aedeagus elongated and narrow, hammer-like in lateral view (as in Fig. 9C: s). FEMALE. Similar to the male except for the normal sexual dimorphism and for the following characteristics: tergum 4 with transversal depression (as in Fig. 3A: marked with arrow, 3B); tergum 5 with two small, lateral depressions (as in Fig. 3C: marked with arrow); black pile on terga more conspicuous than in males: posterior margin of tergum 2, and terga 3–4 predominantly black pilose, except lateral sides and white pollinose fasciate maculae with pale pile., Published as part of Vujić, Ante, Radenković, Snežana, Likov, Laura, Gorše, Iva, Djan, Mihajla, Ristić, Zlata Markov & Barkalov, Anatolii V., 2022, Three new species of the Merodon ruficornis group (Diptera: Syrphidae) discovered at the edge of its range, pp. 301-347 in Zootaxa 5182 (4) on pages 305-307, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5182.4.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7056510, {"references":["Vujic, A., Radenkovic, S., Likov, L. & Veselic, S. (2021 a) Taxonomic complexity in the genus Merodon Meigen, 1803 (Diptera, Syrphidae). ZooKeys, 1031, 85 - 124. https: // doi. org / 10.3897 / zookeys. 1031.62125"]}

Merodon fulvitarsis Vujić et Radenković sp. nov. ZooBank link: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 6A9E56E0-6162-476B-9465-AAC1D7902A4A GenBank accession number of the COI gene sequence: ON562626 (Figs 5A, 5B, 7B, 8A, 9A, 9C–D) Type material. HOLOTYPE: IRAN, Osculu, 38.872483°N, 46.8966°E, ♂, 10286, Leg. Khaghaninia, IMTU. PARATYPE: IRAN, Anali forest, 38.895933°N, 46.779417°E, ♀, 10292, Leg. Khaghaninia, IMTU. Diagnosis. Male terga with indistinct pollinose fasciate maculae (Fig. 5A); metatibia in male with plate-like apical lamella (Fig. 8A: marked with white arrow), in female metatibia curved in apical third (Fig. 7B); metafemur without ventral calcar (Fig. 8A). Similar to Merodon lamellatus from which differs in medium sized process on metatrochanter in male (Fig. 8A: marked with black arrow), [very small in M. lamellatus (Fig. 8B: marked with black arrow)], metatibia with larger plate-like apical lamella (Fig. 8A: marked with white arrow) [smaller in M. lamellatus (Fig. 8B: marked with white arrow)], and narrow metatibia (Fig. 8A) [broader in M. lamellatus (Fig. 8B)]; male genitalia: anterior surstyle lobe biramous (Fig. 9A: al), with narrow and elongated interior accessory lobe (Fig. 9D: il) and angular extension (Fig. 9A: marked with arrow), while in M. lamellatus the interior accessory lobe is less developed and smaller (Fig. 9E: il) and extension is broader (Fig. 9B: marked with arrow). Female can be distinguished from M. lamellatus by angular metatrochanter (Fig. 7B: marked with black arrow), while rounded in M. lamellatus (Fig. 7C: marked with black arrow), and two apical tarsomere in M. fulvitarsis black (7B: marked with white arrows), while in M. lamellatus two apical only slightly darker than basal two tarsomeres (7C: marked with white arrows). Description. Length. Male: 9–10 mm; female: 9–10 mm. MALE (Figs 5A, 8A, 9). Small to medium sized species; terga with indistinct pollinose fasciate maculae (Fig. 5A), covered with pale pilosity laterally and black pile medially; metatrochanter with medium sized process (Fig. 8A: marked with black arrow); metafemur narrow, without ventral protuberance, covered with pile shorter than the width of metafemur (Fig. 8A); metatibia with one plate-like, apical lamella (Fig. 8A: marked with white arrow); basal three tarsomeres of all legs reddish-yellow, apical two black (Fig. 8A). Male genitalia: anterior surstyle lobe biramous (Fig. 9A: al), with narrow and elongated interior accessory lobe (Fig. 9D: il) and angular extension (Fig. 9A: marked with arrow); posterior surstyle lobe hook-like (Fig. 9A: pl); cercus rectangular (Fig. 9A: c); hypandrium sickle-shaped (Fig. 9C), with folded theca (Fig. 9C: marked with arrow). FEMALE (Figs 5B, 7B). Similar to the male except for normal sexual dimorphism and for the following characteristics: metatrochanter angular (Fig. 7B: marked with black arrow); metatibia curved in the apical third (Fig. 7B); terga with distinct white-greyish pollinose fasciate maculae (Fig. 5B); terga with pale pilosity, except black pile medially from posterior half of tergum 2 until tergum 5; tergum 4 with weak transverse depression; tergum 5 with a pair of indistinct, lateral, longitudinal depressions; vertex at the level of ocellar triangle black pilose, frons with medial vitta of few black pile. Etymology. The adjective “fulvus” (fulvi in genitive) means reddish-yellow, referring to the color of basal three tarsomeres on legs. Distribution. Merodon fulvitarsis sp. nov. has been recorded in mountainous areas of northern Iran (1220–1540 m asl) (Fig. 16)., Published as part of Vujić, Ante, Radenković, Snežana, Likov, Laura, Gorše, Iva, Djan, Mihajla, Ristić, Zlata Markov & Barkalov, Anatolii V., 2022, Three new species of the Merodon ruficornis group (Diptera: Syrphidae) discovered at the edge of its range, pp. 301-347 in Zootaxa 5182 (4) on pages 311-313, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5182.4.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7056510

Merodon trispinus Vujić et Radenković sp. nov. ZooBank link: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 93F2A6E3-F105-4697-A0F4-28A19C507C6D GenBank accession number of the COI gene sequence: ON562606 (Figs 3B–D, 4, 5C–D, 7D, 15B, 15E, 10A, 10C–D) Type material. HOLOTYPE: TURKEY, Bozdað Mountain, 38.332693°N, 28.109671°E, 07.VI.2014, ♂, 06927, Leg. Vujić A., Ačanski J., FSUNS. PARATYPES: TURKEY: 38.332693°N, 28.109671°E, 07.VI.2014, 4♂, ♀, 06928, 06929, 06930, 06937, 06938, Leg. Vujić A., Ačanski J., FSUNS; Bozdað Mountain, 38.411655°N, 28.081503°E, 02.V.2014, ♀, 06292, Leg. Vujić A., Ačanski J., FSUNS; Fethiye, Akdað, Cemalani, 36.600998°N, 29.515234°E, 04.VI.2014, 5♂, ♀, 06874, 06882, 06883, 06884, 06885, 06887, Leg. Vujić A., Ačanski J., FSUNS; Izmir, 38.271148°N, 27.175597°E, 06.VI.2014, ♂, 06922, Leg. Vujić A., Ačanski J., FSUNS; Babadað, near Denizli, 37.695179°N, 28.99309°E, 05.VII.2015, 3♂, 09726, 09727, 09728, Leg. Vujiă A., Radenkoviă S., Ačanski J., Veličkoviă S., Stĺhls G., Gökhan S., FSUNS; Boncuk Daðlari, near Ballik, 36.865139°N, 29.34881°E, 04.VII.2014, 2♂, ♀, 09723, 09724, 09725, Leg. Vujiă A., Radenkoviă S., Ačanski J., Veličkoviă S., Stĺhls G., Gökhan S., FSUNS. Diagnosis. Similar to M. portschinskyi and M. turcicus. Males differ by apical part of metatibia with strong, inner, posteroventral spina (Fig. 15E: marked with black arrow) [much smaller in M. portschinskyi and M. turcicus (Figs 15D and 15F: marked with black arrow)], distinct anteroventral spur projected backwards at undulate lamella (Fig. 15E: marked with white arrow) (toward the apex in M. portschinskyi and M. turcicus (Figs 15D and 15F: marked with white arrow), and small carina in between (Fig. 15E: c); process on metatrochanter small (Fig. 15B: marked with black arrow), while medium sized in M. portschinskyi and M. turcicus (Figs 15A and 15C: marked with black arrow); basal part of metafemur ventrally usually less curved (Fig. 15B: marked with white arrow), while strongly curved in M. portschinskyi (Fig. 15A: marked with white arrow). Male genitalia: anterior surstyle lobe biramous (Fig. 10A: al), with slightly developed interior accessory lobe (Fig. 10D: il) and rounded extension (Fig. 10A: marked with arrow), while in M. portschinskyi extension of the anterior surstyle lobe is less developed and tapering (Fig. 10B: marked with arrow). Female: legs mostly black, tarsi at least ventrally, femora apically, and tibiae apically and basally brownish; tergum 4 with distinct transverse depression (Fig. 3B), much less expressed in M. turcicus and M. portschinskyi (Fig. 3A: marked with arrow). Distribution of these three species is allopatric. M. portschinskyi appears on Caucasus mountains, M. turcicus was recorded on North Anatolian Mountains, and M. trispinus sp. nov. has a range in mountains of South West Anatolia (Fig. 17). Description. Length. Male: 10–11 mm; female: 10 mm. MALE (Figs 4A–C, 5C, 15B, 15E, 10A, 10C–D). Medium-sized species with pale pilose terga; terga 2–4 with distinct pollinose fasciate maculae (Fig. 5C); metatrochanter with medium sized process (Fig. 15B: marked with black arrow); metafemur swollen, without ventral protuberance, ventrally covered with long pile (Fig. 15B); metatibia apically with strong, inner, posteroventral spina (Fig. 15E: marked with black arrow), with distinct anteroventral spur projected backwards at undulate lamella (Fig. 15E: marked with white arrow) and with small carina in between (Fig. 15E: c); tarsomeres of all legs dorsally pale brown to black, ventrally reddish. Male genitalia: anterior surstyle lobe biramous (Fig. 10A: al), with slightly developed interior accessory lobe (Fig. 10D: il) and rounded extension (Fig. 10A: marked with arrow); posterior surstyle lobe hook-like (Fig. 10A: pl); cercus oval (Fig. 10A: c); hypandrium sickle-shaped (Fig. 10C), with folded theca (Fig. 10C: marked with arrow). FEMALE (Figs 3B–D, 4D–F, 5D, 7D). Similar to the male except for normal sexual dimorphism and for the following characteristics: metafemur covered with shorter pilosity (Fig. 7D); metatrochanter slightly angular (Fig. 7D); pollinose fasciate maculae on terga 2–4 well defined, white-greyish (Fig. 5D); terga pale pilose, except black pile medially from posterior half of tergum 2 until anterior half of tergum 5; tergum 4 with distinct transverse depression (Fig. 3B); tergum 5 with a pair of distinct lateral, longitudinal depression (Fig. 3C: marked with arrow); vertex at the level of ocellar triangle and frons medially black pilose (Fig. 3D). Etymology. The noun “spinus” meaning thorn-bush refers to three extensions of the exoskeleton at apical part of metatibiae. Distribution. Merodon trispinus sp. nov. occurs in west and southwest Turkey (Figs 16–17)., Published as part of Vujić, Ante, Radenković, Snežana, Likov, Laura, Gorše, Iva, Djan, Mihajla, Ristić, Zlata Markov & Barkalov, Anatolii V., 2022, Three new species of the Merodon ruficornis group (Diptera: Syrphidae) discovered at the edge of its range, pp. 301-347 in Zootaxa 5182 (4) on pages 313-317, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5182.4.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7056510

Merodon acutus Vujić et Radenković sp. nov. ZooBank link: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: B6261D02-1B12-4EB7-A718-3CE714B3B67A GenBank accession number of the COI gene sequence: ON562698 (Figs 1B, 1E, 2A, 2C–D, 6A, 6C, 7A, 14A) Type material. HOLOTYPE: RUSSIA, Kabardino-Balkaria, Chegemsky Canyon, Bulungu, 43.254402°N, 43.149387°E, 12.VII.1999, ♂, 058350, Leg. Barkalov А., SZMN. PARATYPES: RUSSIA, Caucasus, Republik Adygea, near Kamennomostsky, Belaya riverarea, 44.326325°N, 40.183335°E, 11.V.2015, 2♀, 09688, 09689, Leg. Rattel E., Gerzovskiy O., FSUNS. Diagnosis. Legs black; male: calcar on metatrochanter long and distinct (Fig. 1B: a) similar to M. armipes (Fig. 1A), while small and pointed in morphologically related species M. nigripodus (Fig. 1C); metafemur with very small ventral protuberance (Fig. 1B: marked with black arrow), distinct in M. armipes (Fig. 1A: marked with arrow); metatibia with two apical processes: one medium-sized, anteroventral, apical lamella with straight ventral margin (Fig. 1B: marked with white arrow), and one twisted, distinct, inner, posteroventral spina (Fig. 1E: marked with arrow); anteroventral apical lamella with similar direction as in M. ponticus, but with blunt apex (Fig. 1D: marked with arrow), while in M. nigripodus the apical lamella is distinctly triangular, slightly undulate and directed towards metafemur (Fig. 1C: marked with arrow); male genitalia: anterior surstyle lobe biramous (Fig. 2A: al), with distinct and broad interior accessory lobe (Fig. 2D: il) and rectangular extension (Fig. 2A: marked with arrow), while in M. nigripodus the interior accessory lobe is shorter (Fig. 2E: il) and the extension is angular (Fig. 2B: marked with arrow). Female: similar to other Caucasian species M. portschinskyi, except angular metatrochanter with dense whitish pilosity (Figs 6A, 7A), rounded in M. portschinskyi (Figs 6B, 11B), and basoflagellomere longer than wide in M. acutus (Fig. 6C), while almost as long as wide in M. portschinskyi (Fig. 6D). Description. Length. Male: 9–10 mm; female: 9–10 mm. MALE (Figs 1B, 1E, 2, 7A). Small to medium sized, black species with pale pilose terga laterally and with some black pile medially; legs black, except for partially dark brown tarsi; metatrochanter with long and distinct process (Fig. 1B: a); metafemur with very small ventral protuberance (Fig. 1B: marked with black arrow), swollen, covered with short pile (Fig. 1B: b); metatibia narrow, with two apical processes: one medium-sized, anteroventral, apical lamella with straight ventral margin (Fig. 1B: marked with white arrow), and one distinct, twisted, inner, posteroventral spina (Fig. 1E: marked with arrow). Genitalia: anterior surstyle lobe biramous (Fig. 2A: al), with distinct and broad interior accessory lobe (Fig. 2D: il) and rectangular extension (Fig. 2A: marked with arrow); posterior surstyle lobe hook-like (Fig. 2A: pl); cercus elongated (Fig. 2A: c); hypandrium sickle-shaped (Fig. 2C), with folded theca (Fig. 2C: marked with arrow). FEMALE. (Figs 6A, 6C, 14A). Similar to the male except for the normal sexual dimorphism and for the following characteristics: metatrochanter angular (Fig. 7A); pollinose fasciate maculae on terga 2–4 narrow; terga pale pilose, except some black pile medially from posterior half of tergum 2 until anterior half of tergum 5; tergum 4 with clear transverse depression; tergum 5 with a pair of indistinct, lateral, longitudinal depression; vertex at the level of ocellar triangle, and frons with medial vitta of black pile. Etymology. Participle “acutus” (masc.) meaning sharpened made sharp, sharp, having been sharpened, refers to the sharp inner posteroventral spina on metatibia. The name is to be treated as an adjective. Distribution. Merodon acutus sp. nov. was recorded from the northern slopes of the Caucasus (390–1540 m above sea level) in Russia (Fig. 16)., Published as part of Vujić, Ante, Radenković, Snežana, Likov, Laura, Gorše, Iva, Djan, Mihajla, Ristić, Zlata Markov & Barkalov, Anatolii V., 2022, Three new species of the Merodon ruficornis group (Diptera: Syrphidae) discovered at the edge of its range, pp. 301-347 in Zootaxa 5182 (4) on pages 307-311, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5182.4.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7056510