The Extraordinary Diversity of Merodon avidus Complex (Diptera: Syrphidae)-Adding New Areas, New Species and a New Molecular Marker

In this paper, the (Diptera, Syrphidae) species complex was revised, whereupon we discovered and described four new species for science: Vujić, Radenković et Likov sp. nov., Vujić, Kočiš Tubić et Ačanski sp. nov., Vujić, Radenković et Likov sp. nov. and Vujić, Kočiš Tubić et Ačanski sp. nov. An integrative taxonomy approach was used to delimit species boundaries. Two molecular markers (the mitochondrial COI gene and nuclear 28S rRNA gene-newly analysed marker for the complex) and geometric morphometry of the wing shape, together with morphological data and distribution, successfully separated all species from the complex. The morphological variability of the analysed species is described and discussed and an illustrated diagnostic key for typical morpho-forms of species from the complex is presented. A distribution map of all investigated species from the complex is provided. The level of endemicity of the complex was discussed.