Genetic characterization of the Balkan endemic species, Merodon desuturinus (Diptera: Syrphidae)

Abstract

Abstract. Variation of 15 nuclear allozyme genes and a 708 bp fragment of DNA sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene were surveyed in a population of a hoverfly species, Merodon desuturinus Vuji , Šimi & Radenkovi , 1995 (Diptera, Syrphidae), endemic to the Balkan Peninsula. Based on phylogeography and taxonomy, Merodon desuturinus is of special interest from a biogeographical and conservation perspective. Characterization and determination of genetic relationships between M. desuturinus and taxa of the M. aureus, M. avidus, and M. ruficornis groups on the Balkan Peninsula were estimated based on molecular markers (allozymes and COI sequences). We observed that the mean number of alleles per allozyme locus was 1.1, frequency of polymorphic loci 0.067, and heterozygotes were absent. Our results showed an extremely low genetic variability in the M. desuturinus population sampled. We suggest that this taxon calls for a conservation management plan, as it is likely a vulnerable and threatened taxon, an endemic, spatially divided species and represents a unique genetic unit on the Balkan Peninsula.

Revision of the Palaearctic species of the Merodon desuturinus group (Diptera, Syrphidae)

“…The M. desuturinus species group sensu Mengual et al (2006) is characterised by the following adult morphological characters: posterior side of mesocoxa with pile; anterior surstyle lobe with a curved distal prolongation (dp in Figs 1B, 9B, 11B, 12B, 14B); the specific shape of the lateral sclerite of the aedeagus (gradually tapered, with the tip curved downwards) is the main synapomorphic character that connects all species from the group (s in Figs 1C, D, 9C, 11C, 12D, 14C, 16) (Vujić et al 1995, Milankov et al 2008b). The M. desuturinus species group is closely related to the albifrons group (Mengual et al 2006), which has been designated as an albifrons + desuturinus clade in Radenković et al (2018).…”

“…New name for M. lydicus Hurkmans in an unpublished manuscript, cited in Milankov et al (2008b) and Miličić et al (2018); M. lydicus is here designated a nom. nud.…”

“…Milankov et al (2008b) detected low genetic variability in a population of M. desuturinus and demonstrated that this taxon represents an evolutionarily independent lineage among Merodon taxa.…”

“…Later, Marcos-García et al (2007) discovered a related species, M. cabanerensis , from central Spain. Another species was recognized by Hurkmans (unpublished manuscript, cited in Milankov et al, 2008b) as M. lydicus Hurkmans, which was recorded in the Eastern Mediterranean. This latter species is formally described here as M. neolydicus Vujić, nom.…”

Molecular and phenotypic diversity of the Eristalis tenax species (Diptera, Syrphidae)

“…Kao i kod jedinki vrste E. tenax u ovom radu, monomorfnost lokusa Fum, Gpd-2, Idh-1, Idh-2 i Sod i polimorfnost lokusa Got i Me registrovana je i kod drugih sirfida (Milankov i sar., 2001;2002a;2008a, 2008b. Nasuprot 13 monomorfnih lokusa sa zajedničkim alelom u svim uzorcima, distribucija genetičkog diverziteta u okviru polimorfnih lokusa ukazala je na genetičku divergenciju uzoraka iz različitih meseci.…”