Posted by Xeroporcellio on 18-11-2023 15:47
#1
In 30th of July 2023, this pair of white-bearded, sexually dimorphic
Saropogon was collected by a colleague in the Greek island of Lesvos and I was tasked with helping identifying it.
After looking the two main keys that I knew were relevant to the area [Engel's monograph and Sakhvon's 2020 paper (
https://www.resea...ew_species)], plus a few papers/lists on the
Saropogon fauna of Turkey, I was unable to properly match them with a known species. However, I recently obtained the Asilidae volume of Fauna Palaestina and, upon checking the description and external key for the sexes of
S. galilaeus, I noticed that this species was extremely similar in general morphology and shape of hypopygium (I haven't extracted the genitalia yet) to those two specimens! Of course, I can't exclude the possibility that they may belong to a new species, not until the male's genitalia are clearly visible!
Below, I provide photos of the living animals, plus two more of the male genitalia (posterior view). What do you believe? Is there any particular species that comes to your mind?
Thanks!
Edited by Xeroporcellio on 19-11-2023 13:44
Posted by JWV on 18-11-2023 21:36
#6
Hi,
What an astonishing specimens! I don't have a clue on what they could be but I am quite curious to see the genitalia if they are extracted. In my experience genitalia characters are often easier to work with than external characters. I myself have some Saropogon specimens from Samos which I also cannot narrow down to species. Mine are something in the direction of longicornis/patynotus but yours are truly spectacular!!
Let's hope someone in the near future wants to tackle this genus because chances are high that there are undescribed species to be discovered!! (Maybe yours is one of those!!)
Looking forward to the extra pictures,
Best,
Jonne