Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Xanthogramma to be continued

Posted by Fred Fly on 23-05-2013 17:05
#4

Hi Sundew,
specimen of the pedissequum-group with hind legs nearly black from distal end of femur to tibia and tarsi dorsally and with no clear dark rings visible on femura3 and tibia 3 are belonging to X. dives (as clear visible in your brilliant photos 2-4). This is a good character for field observations. I assume that the authors of the passed and forthcoming Checklists and Red Data Books on German Syrphidae , e.g. Dieter Doczkal and Axel Ssymank, are well informed about the occurence of the Xanthogramma species in Germany. There are some faunstic records published as well.
I now read the paper of Speight & Sommaggio 2010 more carefully now, I did not know it. I wonder why it was necessary to designate a lectotype of Syrphus dives Rondani for a single faunistic record from Switzerland. Unfortunately the authors did not redescribe the taxon respectively the lectotype specimen or give a clear definition of it. The syntype series consists of more than one species but they did not give any comment why and how they have chosen the lectotype and therefore the identity of dives Rondani. Following the ICZN all remaining four syntypes become paralectotypes automatically with designating a lectotype independently to which species they belong. At least in this detail they did not act conform to the ICZN . But the give a first, helpful key to this group.