Syrph the Net as a tool for assessing the conservation status of Mediterranean ecosystems

El amplio conocimiento faunístico y biológico de los sírfidos europeos posibilita la existencia de Syrph the Net (StN), una base de datos digitalizada que integra la información biológica de todas las especies. StN cuenta con una herramienta que, basándose en datos cualitativos de asociación especie/hábitat, permite la elaboración de listados de especies esperadas para un hábitat muestreado. Los resultados obtenidos con StN indican el estado de conservación del hábitat, en función de la proporción de especies esperadas teóricamente que se han recolectado en el mismo (función de mantenimiento de la biodiversidad). StN se ha usado con éxito en otros lugares de Europa pero nunca en un ecosistema mediterráneo, como es el Parque Nacional de Cabañeros (España), sentando este estudio las bases para futuros trabajos en este ámbito geográfico. StN sirve para identificar los hábitats más deteriorados de un ecosistema, ayudar a tomar medidas de gestión o hacer posible un seguimiento temporal de la eficacia de dichas medidas.The comprehensive faunistic and biological knowledge of European hoverflies makes the existence of Syrph the Net (StN) possible. StN is a digitized data base providing biological information about all the known hoverfly species in Europe. This data base has a predictive tool that provides a way to compare actual with expected species from any habitat or locality. This tool is based on qualitative data on species-habitat associations. From the StN, we can assess the conservation status of habitats. Conservation status is estimated as the proportion of species expected and found in the sampled habitat (biodiversity-maintenance function). StN has been used in other parts of Europe, but never in a Mediterranean ecosystem, such as Cabañeros National Park (Spain). Thus, this study establishes the basis for future studies in this biogeographical area. StN can help to identify the most damaged habitats within an ecosystem, as well as help in taking palliative measures. StN may also make the monitoring of such measures possible by suggesting designs for repeat samples and analyses.Ministerio de Medio Ambiente (040/2002), Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (beca AP 2003-4001, proyectos CGL2005-07213/BOS y CGL2006-13847-C02-01), “Conselleria d’Empresa, Universitat i Ciència de la Generalitat Valenciana” (ACOMP06/063) y Universidad de Alicante (GRE04-13)

Algunos hallazgos notables dentro de la subtribu Helophilina (Diptera, Syrphidae) de la isla de Menorca, España

This research was funded by the ‘Fauna Ibérica’ project (PGC2018-095851-A-C65) of the ‘Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades’. Antonio Ricarte’s position at the University of Alicante (Ref. UATALENTO17-08) is funded by the ‘Vicerrectorado de Investigación y Transferencia del Conocimiento’. Pablo Aguado-Aranda’s position is funded by the ‘FPI’ national fellowship program (Ref. PRE2019-087508)

Hoverfly diversity (Diptera: Syrphidae) of Pyrenean oak woodlands in Central-Western Spain: a preliminary study with conservation outcomes

Hoverflies are frequently used as biodiversity indicators and are targets of ecological studies across Europe. How hoverfly diversity responds to ecological variables is essential for species and habitat conservation. The present study is a first attempt to assess the hoverfly diversity of deciduous woodlands of Pyrenean oak (Quercus pyrenaica) in La Vera (Central-Western Spain), a habitat in need of conservation and a region that is poorly known in terms of hoverflies. Hoverflies were sampled with hand net in a mature-woodland site, a young-woodland site, and two close-by grassland sites. A higher number of species and individuals was recorded in woodland sites than in grassland sites, with only two species exclusive to the grasslands and thus, suggesting that woodland sites might be acting as a hoverfly reservoir and source. The proportion of species with phytophagous and saprophagous larvae in woodland sites was higher than outside the woodlands, probably due to a higher availability of resources in woodland sites for phytophagous and saprophagous species. The mature woodland was found to have a higher number of species and individuals than the young woodland, possibly due to the presence of grassy clearings and rotting materials in the trees of the mature woodland. The highest number of species was found in the predatory guild (Syrphinae), and smaller-bodied species within this guild were found to be more frequent in grassland than in woodland sites; possible explanations for this result are discussed. Further investigation is required to confirm and expand the results and conclusions found in this initial study on the hoverfly community of the poorly studied Q. pyrenaica woodlands of Central-Western Spain.Open access funding provided by Stockholm University. We thank to the ‘Vicerrectorado de Investigación y Transferencia de Conocimiento’ for funding Antonio Ricarte’s position (Ref. UATAL05) at the University of Alicante

An exploratory survey and assessment of the hoverfly diversity (Diptera: Syrphidae) from the Pyrenees of Girona, Spain

Syrphidae are pollinators, pest predators and decomposers in European ecosystems. Camprodon (Girona province, Spain) is a valley with rich vegetation and high habitat diversity in the eastern Pyrenees. However, hoverfly biodiversity in this valley was poorly known. To explore the high potential of this area for Syrphidae, a survey with hand-net was undertaken in July/August 2020 in the valley. The list of Syrphidae species from the valley increases to 88, whilst that of the Girona province now extends to 119 species. Chrysotoxum lessonae is reported for the first time from the Iberian Peninsula. The specimens of Xylota tarda and Cheilosia hypena () represent the first documented records of these species for the Iberian Peninsula and Spain, respectively; i.e. these two species were known to occur in the Iberian Peninsula and Spain but without further locality details. A total of 19 species were new to the region of Catalonia and 23 to the Girona province. Cheilosia was the genus with the highest number of species recorded, as expected from the combination of mountains, diversity of forest vegetation, and presence of rivers/streams of the Camprodon valley. Faunistic results from this fieldwork are relevant to knowledge of Diptera from Catalonia, a region of Spain where this insect family is understudied.Antonio Ricarte’s position (Ref. UATALENTO17-08) at the University of Alicante is funded by the “Vicerrectorado de Investigación y Transferencia del Conocimiento”. This research was funded by the Fauna Iberica Project PGC2018-095851-A-C65 of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities

Nuevos datos del género Parhelophilus Girschner, 1897 de España, incluidos los primeros registros de P. crococoronatus Reemer, 2000 (Diptera, Syrphidae)

The hoverfly Parhelophilus crococoronatus Reemer, 2000 (Syrphidae: Eristalinae) was recorded from France and Portugal. In this work, it is reported from Spain for the first time. In Murcia province, the species was caught at the hydro dam “Presa de la Risca”. The habitat consisted of newly flooded forested meadows with decaying shrubs and dead trees, where the aquatic larvae of Parhelophilus live. This habitat has most likely been lost by now, as most of the area has been flooded, and the current presence of P. crococoronatus needs to be confirmed. In Granada province, P. crococoronatus was collected in a Phragmites-rich natural wetland, while in Huelva it was collected in a marshland with trees and low vegetation. The findings show that, even if the habitat of P. crococoronatus in Murcia has disappeared, the species is more widespread and has viable populations in Spain. Additional records of Parhelophilus versicolor (Fabricius, 1794) and Parhelophilus frutetorum (Fabricius, 1775) are provided.El sírfido Parhelophilus crococoronatus Reemer, 2000 (Syrphidae: Eristalinae) estaba registrado de Francia y Portugal. En este trabajo, se documenta, por primera vez, de España. En la provincia de Murcia, el hábitat donde esta especie se ha capturado es el Embalse de la Risca, constituido por valles forestales arbolados recientemente inundados, con matorrales en descomposición y árboles muertos, donde viven las larvas acuáticas de Parhelophilus. Este hábitat ha desaparecido por inundación, por lo que la presencia actual en esta ubicación de P. crococoronatus requiere de confirmación. En la provincia de Granada, P. crococoronatus se recolectó en un humedal natural dominado por Phragmites, mientras que, en Huelva, fue recolectado en un área de marismas con árboles y vegetación baja. Los presentes hallazgos muestran que, aunque el hábitat de P. crococoronatus haya desaparecido en Murcia, la especie está más extendida en España. Se proporcionan registros adicionales de Parhelophilus versicolor (Fabricius, 1794) y Parhelophilus frutetorum (Fabricius, 1775).The work reported here was partly funded by the ‘Fauna Ibérica’ Project PGC2018-095851-A-C65 of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. Antonio Ricarte’s position (Ref. UATALENTO17-08) at the University of Alicante is funded by the “Vicerrectorado de Investigación y Transferencia del Conocimiento”

The early stages and life histories of three Eumerus and two Merodon species (Diptera: Syrphidae) from the Mediterranean region

This paper describes the early stages and life histories of the syrphids Eumerus obliquus (Fabricius, 1805), E. pulchellus Loew, 1848, E. pusillus Loew, 1848, Merodon constans (Rossi, 1794) and M. luteihumerus Marcos-Garcia, Vujic & Mengual, 2007 (Diptera, Syrphidae) from Spain and Morocco. E. pulchellus, E. pusillus and M. luteihumerus were found inside bulbs of Urginea maritima (L.) Baker and E. pulchellus additionally in tubers of Asphodelus aestivus Brot. These data are some ofthe few obtained of natural plant relationships in these speciesrich genera. E. obliquus was found in fruits and platyclades of Opuntia maxima Mill., both insect and host plant are introductions. M. constans was found in commercially grown bulbs of Muscari comosum (L.) Mill. The Eumerus larvae studied here appear to more saprophagous than phytophagous but M. luteihumerus at least, seems to be a strict phytophage

A complex landscape favours the abundance and species richness of syrphids (Diptera: Syrphidae) in olive groves

1. Sustainability of agroecosystems depends on the ecosystem services, provided by beneficial organisms, such as the syrphids (Diptera: Syrphidae) acting as other-insect predators and pollinators in different crops. In the case of olive groves, syrphids are predators of important pests and are endangered by the continuous intensification of agriculture, including landscape simplification. In this work, the effect of landscape structure on the abundance and species richness of syrphids in the olive agroecosystem of central Spain is assessed. 2. Adult syrphids were sampled in 2015 and 2016 in the centre of circular areas of 15 olive grove landscapes (from 250 to 1500 m radius) representing a gradient of landscape complexity, in the province of Madrid, central Spain. 3. The syrphid assemblage was made up of 57 species, although Eupeodes corollae, Eristalis tenax, Eristalis similis and Chrysotoxum intermedium made up 76% of the captures. 4. Syrphid abundance and species richness were favoured in complex landscapes, with low olive grove area (CAO). Other landscape indices showed also this trend although their effect was not as strong and consistent as that of CAO. The area of scrublands (CAS) favoured syrphids in spring, but was unfavourable in autumn. The effect of Shannon's Evenness Index (SHEI) and mean shape index (MSI) was less consistent. The effect of CAO increased with increasing buffers radii, while the effect of CAS, SHEI and MSI was detected in general at smaller radii, indicating these indices affect different processes. 5. Redundancy analysis (RDA) detected some differences between species regarding their abundance in spring versus autumn, and their relationship with landscape indices. 6. This work provides new evidence that maintenance of complex landscapes is essential for maintaining functional biodiversity in the olive agroecosystem.This work was supported by the the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of Spain and the European Regional Development Fund by project RTA2013-00039-C03-03 and the “Vicerrectorado de Investigación y Transferencia del Conocimiento” was funded by Antonio Ricarte's position at the University of Alicante (Ref. UATALENTO17-08). This study is within the framework of the “Fauna Ibérica” project (PGC2018-095851-A-C65) of the “Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades” of Spain

Presente y futuro del conocimiento sobre el género Eumerus Meigen, 1822 (Diptera: Syrphidae) en la Península Ibérica

The genus Eumerus Meigen, 1822 (Diptera: Syrphidae) is one of the most diverse hoverfly genera in the west Palaearctic Region with 140 confirmed species and 80 occurring in the European continent. It is also highly diverse in the Iberian Peninsula plus the Balearic and Canary Islands with 43 species. Recent works on this genus have increased the number of species endemic to the Iberian Peninsula up to five. Nowadays, taxonomy, distribution and biology of the Iberian Eumerus taxonomy are still far to be fully understood. The aim of this work is to present an updated overview of the Eumerus taxonomy and diversity in the Iberian area, addressing main topics pending of resolution in the genus.El género Eumerus Meigen, 1822 (Diptera: Syrphidae) es uno de los géneros de sírfidos más diversos en la Región Paleártica con 140 especies confirmadas y 80 presentes en el continente Europeo. Es también muy diverso en la Península Ibérica e Islas Baleares y Canarias con 43 especies. Recientes publicaciones sobre este género han aumentado a cinco el número de especies endémicas para la Península Ibérica. En la actualidad, la taxonomía, distribución y biología de los Eumerus ibéricos están lejos de ser comprendidas completamente. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar una visión actualizada de la taxonomía y diversidad de Eumerus en el área Ibérica, enfocando los principales temas pendientes de ser resueltos en este género.This research is part of Pablo Aguado-Aranda’s PhD thesis (Ref. PRE2019-087508) and is funded by the ‘Fauna Ibérica’ project (Ref. PGC2018-095851-A-C65), ‘Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación’, Spain; Antonio Ricarte’s position at the University of Alicante (Ref. UATALENTO17-08) is funded by the ‘Vicerrectorado de Investigación y Transferencia del Conocimiento’