Microdon Meigen 1803

Abstract

Keys to immature stages of the European species of Microdon First instar larvae 1 Body about 1.5 times as long as wide; posterior spiracular tubercle long (more than 1.5 times as long as wide at base); marginal band elongate, showing eight waves on each side...................................... M. myrmicae / M. mutabilis - Body about two times as long as wide; posterior spiracular tubercle very short (wider than long at base); marginal band short, showing 10 waves on each side................................................................... M. analis Puparia 1 Most of the dorsal surface of puparium smooth and bare, with reticulation reduced to a narrow, lateral belt.............. 2 - Dorsal surface of puparium completely covered by a dorsal reticulation.......................................... 3 2 Anterior spiracular tubercles conical, tapering at apex; anterior spiracular tubercles about 1.4 times as long as wide at base; each reticulation process composed of groups of umbrella-like structures................................... M. myrmicae - Anterior spiracular tubercles dome-shaped, blunt at apex; anterior spiracular tubercles about 0.8 times as long as wide at base; each reticulation process composed of stringy, extended projections.................................... M. mutabilis 3 Meshes of the dorsal reticulation no broader than the basal diameter of the posterior spiracular tubercle; posterior spiracular tubercle wider than long; anterior spiracular tubercles straight................................................. 4 - Meshes of the dorsal reticulation two times as broad as the basal diameter of the posterior spiracular tubercle; posterior spiracular tubercle longer than wide; anterior spilacural tubercles laterally curved................................. M. devius 4 Anterior spiracular tubercles equal or more than two times as long as wide....................................... 5 - Anterior spiracular tubercles one time only as long as wide, or shorter than wide.............................. M. miki 5 Anterior spiracular tubercles nearly cylindrical, about three times as long as wide; posterior spiracular tubercle light-brown contrasting with the reddish-brown apical spiracular plates.............................................. M. analis - Anterior spiracular tubercles clearly conical, about two times as long as wide; posterior spiracular tubercle uniformly reddishbrown....................................................................................... M. majorPublished as part of Scarparo, Giulia, Wolton, Robert, Molfini, Marco, Pinna, Luigi Cao & Ulio, Andrea Di Gi-, 2020, Comparative morphology of myrmecophilous immature stages of European Microdon species (Diptera: Syrphidae): updated identification key and new diagnostic characters, pp. 348-370 in Zootaxa 4789 (2) on pages 364-365, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4789.2.2, http://zenodo.org/record/399083