Cheilosia ( Cheilosia ) redi Vujić, 1996

Bot, Sander, Mengual, Ximo, Meutter, Frank Van de & Skevington, Jeffrey H., 2025, Review of the genus Cheilosia Meigen, 1822 (Diptera: Syrphidae) from the Caucasus, with the description of 14 new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 1023, pp. 1-181 : 118-121

Cheilosia ( Cheilosia) redi Vujić, 1996

Fig. 60

Cheilosia melanopa redi Vujić, 1996: 93 .

Cheilosia melanopa ( Zetterstedt, 1843) – Mengual et al. 2020: 18 (part, see Remarks).

Differential diagnosis

The male of Cheilosia redi is distinguishable from those of all other Cheilosia except C. borjomi sp. nov., C. lasiopa , C. variabilis and C. melanopa by the combination of pilose face, pruinose scutum and sickle-shaped dorsal lobe of the postgonite. The male can be distinguished from that of C. lasiopa by, amongst other characters, longer setae on posterior margin of scutellum, shorter sickle-shaped dorsal lobe of postgonite and longer pile on metafemur. The male genitalia of C. redi are figured in Francuski et al. (2009). The male of C. redi differs from those of C. borjomi and C. variabilis by, amongst other characters, smaller body size ( 8–11 mm vs 10–12 mm), stockier abdomen, tibiae usually narrowly yellow at base and apex (usually all black in C. borjomi and C. variabilis ), absence of black setae on ventral part of metafemur (present in C. borjomi and C. variabilis ), and yellow pile on entire posterior part of metatibia, (basal half of metatibia with black pile in C. borjomi and C. variabilis ). The male of C. redi is very similar to that of C. melanopa , but it differs by the short pilosity on arista, at the base of arista about half as long as diameter of arista at base (in C. melanopa the aristal pile at base almost as long as diameter of arista at base), long pile on occiput behind dorsal margin of eyes partly yellow ( Fig. 60E) (entirely black pilose in C. melanopa ), metafemur with at least basal 60% of the anterior long and short pile yellow (at most the basal third metafemur yellow pilose in C. melanopa ), metatibia posteriorly with yellow pile entirely (in C. melanopa only apical half of metatibia with yellow pile posteriorly, basal half with black pile). In general, the male of C. redi is has more yellow pilosity: face with predominantly yellow instead of predominantly black pile, scutum with larger proportion of yellow pile, dorsal pile of katepisternum yellow (almost always with some black pile intermixed in C. melanopa ) and terga II–IV entirely or almost entirely with yellow pile (in C. melanopa almost always with black pile medially in posterior part); on average the male of C. redi has paler legs: usually protibia and mesotibia with yellow base and apex ( Fig. 60A), while in C. melanopa legs often entirely black or only base yellow or pale parts dark orange.

The female of C. redi is similar to that of C. melanopa but the metatibia is entirely yellow pilose (in C. melanopa the anterior side of metatibia with black pile), terga II–IV medially with yellow pile only, sometimes shorter black pile present (in C. melanopa terga II–IV always with distinct adpressed black pile, at least posteriorly). Female of C. redi has on average more yellow legs, more often protibia and mesotibia yellow at both ends and with yellow long pile on the dorsal margin of occiput behind dorsal margin of eyes ( Fig. 60F) (often black in C. melanopa ). The female of C. redi is very similar to the female of C. pogonias sp. nov., for differences see Differential diagnosis under C. pogonias .

Material examined

Collected in 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023, but 2018 records were not published in Mengual et al. (2020). Thus, all our records are reported here.

GEORGIA – Adjara Region • 1 ♀; Kintrishi Nature Reserve ; 41.7293° N, 42.0775° E; 1035 m a.s.l.; 20 Apr.–5 May 2018; GGBC-members leg; ZFMK, ZFMK-TIS-8010448 • 1 ♀; Kintrishi Nature Reserve ; 41.7433° N, 42.0840° E; 1235 m a.s.l.; 7–20 May 2018; GGBC-members leg; ZFMK, ZFMK-TIS-8010480 • 1 ♂; Kintrishi Nature Reserve ; 41.7551° N, 42.1124° E; 2268 m a.s.l.; 2–16 Jun. 2018; GGBC-members leg; ZFMK, ZFMK-TIS-8010565 • 1 ♀; Kintrishi Nature Reserve ; 41.7553° N, 42.1129° E; 2280 m a.s.l.; 2–16 Jun. 2018; GGBC-members leg; ZFMK, ZFMKTIS-8010543 • 1 ♀; Kintrishi Nature Reserve ; 41.7553° N, 42.1128° E; 2280 m a.s.l.; 2–16 Jun. 2018; GGBC-members leg; ZFMK, ZFMK-TIS-8010556 • 1 ♂; Kintrishi Nature Reserve ; 41.7619° N, 42.1162° E; 2462 m a.s.l.; 16–30 Jun. 2018; GGBC-members leg; ZFMK, ZFMK-TIS-8010535 • 1 ♀; Kintrishi Nature Reserve ; 41.7619° N, 42.1162° E; 2462 m a.s.l.; 30 Jun.–14 Jul. 2018; GGBCmembers leg; ZFMK, ZFMK-TIS-8002723 . – Kakheti • 1 ♀; Batsara Nature Reserve, Rangers office ; 42.22246° N, 45.30369° E; 807 m a.s.l.; 28–29 May 2022; X. Mengual leg.; Malaise trap; ZFMK, ZFMK-DIP-00094242 . – Mtskheta-Mtianeti • 1 ♀; Tbilisi N.P. ; 41.8808° N, 45.0203° E; 1270 m a.s.l.; 1 Jun. 2022; X. Mengual leg.; ZFMK, ZFMK-DIP-00094160 = ZFMK-TIS-8014609 • 2 ♀♀; Tbilisi N.P. ; 41.8808° N, 45.0203° E; 1270 m a.s.l.; 27 May 2022; X. Mengual leg.; ZFMK, ZFMKDIP-00093899 = ZFMK-TIS-8014608 , ZFMK-DIP-00093893 = ZFMK-TIS-8014606 • 21 ♀♀; Tbilisi N.P. ; 41.88116° N, 45.020803° E; 1275 m a.s.l.; 27 May–1 Jun. 2022; X. Mengual leg.; Malaise trap; ZFMK, ZFMK-DIP-00094263 to ZFMK-DIP-00094265 , ZFMK-DIP-00094269 , ZFMK-DIP-00094275 , ZFMK-DIP-00094308 , ZFMK-DIP-00094326 , ZFMK-DIP-00094377 to ZFMK-DIP-00094380 , ZFMK-DIP-00094446 , ZFMK-DIP-00094447 , ZFMK-DIP-00094452 , ZFMK-DIP-00094453 , ZFMKDIP-00094456 , ZFMK-DIP-00094459 , ZFMK-DIP-00094461 to ZFMK-DIP-00094464 • 1 ♀; Tbilisi N.P. ; 41.880° N, 45.023° E; 1289 m a.s.l.; 4 May 2023; S. Bot leg.; SBA, SB.003049 • 2 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; L. Hofstee leg.; LHH • 3 ♀♀; Tbilisi N.P. ; 41.877° N, 45.0138° E; 1250 m a.s.l.; 4 May 2023; F. Van de Meutter leg.; FMT • 1 ♂; Tbilisi N.P. ; 41.8802° N, 45.0220° E; 1279 m a.s.l.; 4 May 2023; W. Opdekamp leg.; WOR, A005 • 2 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; WOR, A004 , A014 • 1 ♂; Lutkhubi ; 42.3797° N, 44.7969° E; 1463 m a.s.l.; 6 May 2023; S. Bot leg.; SBA, SB.003050 • 2 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; SBA, SB.003051, SB.003052 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; ZFMK, ZFMK-TIS-8027974 • 1 ♀; Lutkhubi ; 42.3797° N, 44.7969° E; 1463 m a.s.l.; 6 May 2023; L. Hofstee leg.; LHH • 4 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Lutkhubi ; 42.3867° N, 44.79° E; 1580 m a.s.l.; 6 May 2023; F. Van de Meutter leg.; FMT • 10 ♂♂; Lutkhubi ; 42.3951° N, 44.7847° E; 2138 m a.s.l.; 6 May 2023; F. Van de Meutter leg.; FMT • 2 ♂♂; Lutkhubi ; 42.3930° N, 44.7929° E; 1700 m a.s.l.; 6 May 2023; W. Opdekamp leg.; WOR, A002 , A011 • 5 ♂♂; Lutkhubi ; 42.3823° N, 44.7856° E; 1500 m a.s.l.; 6 May 2023; W. Opdekamp leg.; WOR, D001 , D004 , D015 , D018 , D019 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; D032 • 3 ♂♂; Lutkhubi ; 42.3938° N, 44.7857° E; 2120 m a.s.l.; 6 May 2023; W. Opdekamp leg.; WOR, E004 , E020 , E021 • 6 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀; Lutkhubi ; 42.3936° N, 44.7923° E; 1760 m a.s.l.; 8 May 2023; F. Van de Meutter leg.; FMT • 1 ♂; Lutkhubi ; 42.3930° N, 44.7929° E; 1734 m a.s.l.; 8 May 2023; W. Opdekamp leg.; WOR, C025 • 1 ♀; Tbilisi N.P. ; 41.8787° N, 45.0288° E; 1316 m a.s.l.; 9 May 2023; S. Bot leg.; SBA, SB.003055 • 2 ♀♀; Tbilisi N.P.; 41.8770° N, 45.0137° E; 1248 m a.s.l.; 9 May 2023; S. Bot leg.; SBA, SB.003053 , SB.003054 . – Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti • 1 ♀; Tsana ; 42.90° N, 43.14° E; 1830 m a.s.l.; 18 Jun. 2019; J. van Steenis leg.; JSB, 2019-00.861 • 1 ♀; Tsana ; 42.9089° N, 43.1425° E; 1900 m a.s.l.; 19 Jun. 2019; F. Van de Meutter leg.; FMT • 3 ♀♀; 42.82111° N, 43.16069° E; 1450 m a.s.l.; 20 Jun. 2019; X. Mengual leg.; ZFMK, ZFMK-TIS-8006797 = ZFMK-DIP-00066232 , ZFMK-TIS-8006817 = ZFMK-DIP-00066233 , ZFMK-DIP-00066195 • 2 ♀♀; 42.82° N, 43.16° E; 1485 m a.s.l.; 20 Jun. 2019; J. van Steenis leg.; JSB, 2019-00.862 , 2019-00.863 . – Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti • 1 ♀; 42.912° N, 42.937° E; 2430 m a.s.l.; 27 Jun. 2018; S. Bot leg.; SBA, SB.003046 • 1 ♀; Mestia ; 43.0256° N, 42.8908° E; 2550 m a.s.l.; 13 Jun. 2019; F. Van de Meutter leg.; FMT • 1 ♂; Ughviri Lake ; 43.0319° N, 42.8272° E; 1905 m a.s.l.; 13 Jun. 2019; X. Mengual leg.; ZFMK, ZFMK-TIS-8006798 = ZFMK-DIP-00066231 • 1 ♀; 43.02836° N, 42.87878° E; 2345 m a.s.l.; 13 Jun. 2019; X. Mengual leg.; ZFMK, ZFMK-TIS-8006799 = ZFMK-DIP-00066251 • 1 ♀; Mestia ; 43.042° N, 42.768° E; 1473 m a.s.l.; 13 Jun. 2019; S. Bot leg.; SBA, SB.003047 = CNC databasing S. Bot 933 • 1 ♀; Mestia ; 43.02° N, 42.87° E; 2350 m a.s.l.; 13 Jun. 2019; J. van Steenis leg.; JSB, 2019-00.880 • 1 ♀; 42.9989° N, 42.6501° E; 1273 m a.s.l.; 13–14 Jun. 2019; X. Mengual leg.; Malaise trap; ZFMK, ZFMK-DIP-00078704 = ZFMK-TIS-8010113 • 1 ♀; 43.112° N, 42.743° E; 1713 m a.s.l.; 14 Jun. 2019; L. Hofstee leg.; LHH • 1 ♀; Ushguli ; 42.920° N, 42.937° E; 2283 m a.s.l.; 16 Jun. 2019; L. Hofstee leg.; LHH • 1 ♀; Ushguli ; 42.920° N, 42.937° E; 2283 m a.s.l.; 17 Jun. 2019; S. Bot leg.; SBA, SB.003048 = CNC databasing S. Bot 934 • 1 ♂; Ushguli ; 42.898° N, 43.008° E; 2601 m a.s.l.; 18 Jun. 2019; S. Bot leg.; SBA, SB.003044 . – Samtskhe-Javakheti • 1 ♀; Borjomi N.P.; 41.867° N, 43.251° E; 2000 m a.s.l.; 18 Jun. 2018; S. Bot leg.; SBA, SB.003045 • 1 ♂; Borjomi N.P. ; 41.824° N, 42.848° E; 2165 m a.s.l.; 10 Jun. 2019; S. Bot leg.; SBA, SB.003043 • 1 ♀; 41.8234° N, 42.8400° E; 2025 m a.s.l.; 11 Jun. 2019; X. Mengual leg.; ZFMK, ZFMK-DIP-00066336 .

Genetics

There is a cluster (BS = 91.2%) in our NJ tree with C. redi and C. melanopa barcodes. All DNA barcodes of C. redi are clustered together with high support value (BS = 100%) and all DNA sequences of C. melanopa as well (BS = 98.1%).

Remarks

Reported from the Caucasus, and Georgia, for the first time. Barkalov (1993) already wrote that C. melanopa was polymorphic, with one morph having almost black legs and black pilosity on scutum and scutellum, and a second pale morph with legs partly yellow and mostly yellow pilosity on scutum and scutellum. The pale morph, very likely, is C. redi . Some records of C. melanopa in Mengual et al. (2020) actually are C. redi , and are reported here again as C. redi .

Biology

Collected in mountains between 1248–2601 m a.s.l. between 4 May and 20 June. It can be found in sympatry with C. melanopa . Found in the montane and subalpine zone near forest and in forest clearings as well as on alpine meadows.

Distribution

Within Europe, occurs mainly in the Balkan Peninsula with scattered records in Central Europe. Caucasus ( Georgia).