Comprising nearly 500 species worldwide, Cheilosia Meigen is the largest genus of Syrphidae in the Palaearctic region. Within Cheilosia, phenotypic diversity has been assessed in different species groups, including the group of Cheilosia longula (Zetterstedt, 1838). However, the phenotypic variability of Cheilosia soror (Zetterstedt, 1843), a highly variable member of the C. longula group, has never been assessed in western Europe. In the present work, morphological and molecular analyses were conducted to assess the phenotypic variability found in 300+ specimens of C. soror from the Iberian Peninsula. A total of 16 variable characters were identified and defined for the C. soror morphology, with the highest variation found in the colour of the mesonotum pilosity and the metatibia colour. Morphological variation was assessed against molecular variation based on two molecular markers, one mitochondrial, the 5 end of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI-5), and one nuclear, the large subunit ribosomal DNA (28S). Phylogenetic analyses rendered trees with topologies in disagreement with the defined morphological variation. Two haplotypes were identified amongst the analysed specimens of C. soror, together with a haplotypic variant exclusive to the Iberian region. Potential distributions were used to identify unexplored areas of occurrence of C. soror and other species of the C. longula group in the Iberian Peninsula. Unassessed areas of occurrence of C. soror should be surveyed in the future to confirm the absence of hidden taxonomic diversity within the range of phenotypic variation for this species. Phenotypic variation of the other two Iberian species of the C. longula group, C. longula and C. scutellata (Fallén, 1817), was also assessed to find that they are species with less-variable morphology than C. soror and with molecular characters in accordance with other conspecific populations in Europe. New distributional data are provided for C. soror and C. scutellata from Spain, and a leg abnormality is identified for the first time in C. soror.

The largest genus of Palaearctic Syrphidae, Cheilosia Meigen, 1822 (Syrphidae: Rhingiini), is currently under revision in the Ibero-Balearic region (Iberian Peninsula + Balearic Islands). Prior to this study, various species groups with putative phylogenetic support were defined for this genus of complex taxonomy. The group of Cheilosia melanura Becker, 1894 includes species distributed all over Europe, with some of these species being similar each other in both morphology and genetics. After recent fieldwork in different Iberian localities and consultation of entomological collections, a new species from Sierra Nevada (Granada, Spain) was uncovered, described, and illustrated. Data on diagnostic characters, intraspecific variability, and adult biology were also provided. Maximum likelihood analyses of the fragment “C” of the 5′ end of the cytochrome c oxydase subunit I (COI-5′) and complete COI-5′ were performed to explore and support morphological species concepts within the group. The Spanish-endemic Cheilosia andalusiaca Torp Pedersen, 1971 is recognised here to be part of the C. melanura group based both on morphological and molecular evidence. Cheilosia carbonaria Egger, 1860 and Cheilosia cynocephala Loew, 1840 from the Iberian Peninsula are reported for the first time based on specimens originating in the Spanish Pyrenees. An identification key for the Iberian species of the C. melanura group is provided.

Records of two species of hoverflies (Diptera, Syrphidae), Hammerschmidtia ferruginea (Fallén, 1817) and Megasyrphus erraticus (Linnaeus, 1758), are here provided for the first time in the Iberian Peninsula, both records located at the southern edges of these genera ranges in Europe. The new data is reported following fieldwork in the Pyrenees of Huesca and Lleida provinces (Spain) and consultation of the 'Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona' entomological collection. The importance of these findings is discussed in the frame of the conservation of these species’ habitats.

El declive de los polinizadores y la consecuente necesidad de realizar seguimiento de sus poblaciones implica tener un conocimiento óptimo de la distribución presente e histórica de las especies involucradas. En este contexto, las colecciones entomológicas adquieren un valor añadido. El desarrollo de una colección nacional de polinizadores de referencia es justamente el objetivo del proyecto INC-STEP, en el marco del cual se han realizado abundantes identificaciones de sírfidos eristalinos. De todas las identificaciones realizadas, solo se destaca una selección de aquellas consideradas relevantes por suponer novedades faunísticas en ciertos ámbitos geográficos o por la importancia taxonómica de los géneros a los que pertenecen. En total, se tratan 29 especies, de las cuales tres son primeras citas para España. Este trabajo confirma la importancia de las colecciones en el entendimiento de la distribución de los eristalinos y de los polinizadores en general, y recuerda que todavía queda mucha información por extraer en los especímenes de colección.

In agricultural systems, linear habitat features and resource shifting over the season can shape insect communities. When evaluating insect assemblages, the use of trait-based approaches allows measuring of the functional component of diversity which, combined with a taxonomical perspective, may help to understand how environmental factors drive community structuring. In Mediterranean vineyard agroecosystems, we assessed Heteroptera communities to evaluate linear habitat type (hedgerow vs. grass strip) and seasonality drive assemblages from both a taxonomical and a trait-based perspective. Morphometric traits related to dispersal ability or microhabitat and resource use were measured. Heteroptera community composition varied from hedgerows to strips and also changed over the season. However, the taxonomical response was not as strong as the trait one. Trait composition of the omnivorous heteropteran community remained stable when compared to those of phytophagous and predatory heteropterans, which were more sensitive to the evaluated factors. Given that each linear habitat type supports communities with different trait compositions, we highlight the importance of preserving a variety of habitats to achieve a high functional diversity. We also emphasize the need to develop studies at different spatial scales that allow to better understand the significance of landscape elements on shaping insect assemblages across different climatic regions.

Exceeding half a thousand species worldwide, Cheilosia Meigen, 1822 is the largest genus of Syrphidae (hoverflies) in the Iberian Peninsula, which, in turn, is a biodiversity hotspot in Europe. Apart from its remarkable alpha diversity, Cheilosia includes many species with high levels of morphological variability, leading to a complex taxonomy. The rather-inconspicuous, small-sized Cheilosia mutabilis (Fallén, 1817) and Cheilosia urbana (Meigen, 1822) are a good example of this complexity and an integrated approach (morphology + DNA ) was here followed to assess their morphological variability in Iberian populations. After fieldwork in several Spanish localities and revision of entomological collections, 230+ specimens were examined of four taxa, including a species new to science with distinctive morphology. The new species originates mainly from Sierra Nevada (Granada, southern Spain) and is allied with C. urbana . A detailed new species description is provided with drawings of the male genitalia and an account of morphological variation. The morphological variability of C. mutabilis and C. urbana were assessed against molecular data. As a result, a list of variable characters for each species was produced. In addition, Cheilosia psilophthalma Becker, 1894 was reported for the first time from the Iberian Peninsula. DNA of all four taxa was studied based on the 5’ end of the cytochrome c oxydase subunit I gene ( COI-5 ’), with sequences produced from Iberian material of three species, to explore species concepts and phylogenetic relationships. This paper represents a substantial advance in the taxonomy and systematics of the variable C. mutabilis and C. urbana , but also prompts the need of further investigations in a wider geographic frame to explore the entire morphological and genetic variability of these species.