 |
| Katara connexa Vujić & Radenković
in Vujić, Ståhls & Radenković, 2019.
|
Abstract
For the first time in more than 30 years, a new European hoverfly genus has been discovered, Katara gen. nov. Its type species Katara connexa sp. nov. (Diptera: Syrphidae) is described from the Pindos Mountains (Greece), and the systematic position of the monotypic taxon within the tribe Rhingiini is analysed using morphological and molecular data. Phylogenetic analyses resolved Katara connexa gen. et sp. nov. as sister taxon to Pelecocera latifrons. We assert based on the molecular phylogenetic results and the morphological distinctness of Pelecocera latifrons that this taxon merits a generic rank, thus we erect the genus Pseudopelecocera gen. nov. and also place Pelecocera persiana in this new genus based on shared characteristics. Based on our results, we place Chamaesyrphus in subgeneric rank and as a sister group to the nominal subgenus Pelecocera. We provide an identification key to the Rhingiini genera. Our phylogenetic analyses recovered all speciose Rhingiini genera as monophyletic and support existence of three main lineages within the tribe: (1) genus Rhingia with two groups, Palaearctic+Neotropical and Afrotropical taxa, (2) genus Cheilosia with its subgenera, and (3) lineage with remaining genera (Pseudopelecocera gen. nov., Katara gen. nov., Ferdinandea, Psarochilosia, Psarus, Portevinia and Pelecocera).
Keywords: Katara connexa, new genus, new species, Pelecocera latifrons, Pindos Mountains, Pseudopelecocera
 |
| Figure 9. Katara connexa Vujić & Radenković sp. nov., male, lateral view. Scale in mm. |
Family Syrphidae Latreille, 1802
Tribe Rhingiini Meigen, 1822
Genus Katara Vujić & Radenković gen. nov.
Etymology: The new genus is named based on type locality, an area between Katara pass and Kampos Despoti, in PindosMountains, central Greece. Word ‘Katara’ is latinized from the Greek word ‘Kataras’. The name is to be considered as feminine. It means ‘curse’ in Greek language, indicating the dangerous high mountain pass.
Katara connexa Vujić & Radenković sp. nov.
Etymology: The new species is named according to the Latin word ‘connexa’ indicating the connection of the taxon to the other taxa of the tribe based on its characters. It is the participle of the verb ‘connecto’ in the nominative singular and agrees in feminine gender with the corresponding genus name.
Ante Vujić, Gunilla Ståhls and Snežana Radenković. 2019. Hidden European Diversity: A New Monotypic Hoverfly Genus (Diptera: Syrphidae: Eristalinae: Rhingiini). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 185(4); 1188–1211. DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zly066
