A second survey of Surinam Syrphidae (Diptera): introduction and Syrphinae

Menno Reemer

A faunistic study of the Syrphidae of Surinam was published by Van Doesburg (1962, 1966), based on material collected in the years 1957–1963. The present paper constitutes the first part in a series of papers presenting the results of a second faunistic survey of Surinam Syrphidae, mostly based on recently collected material. This part contains a general introduction and accounts of the species of the subfamily Syrphinae. Historical records are reviewed and, when necessary, modified according to present taxonomic knowledge. When available, ecological and biological information is given. Pictures of all recorded species are included. A total number of 60 species of Syrphinae is recorded. Compared with the checklist of Van Doesburg (1966), 22 species are added and 16 are removed. Two new species are described: guianica sp. n. and icarus sp. n. The following new synonyms are proposed: Baccha cultrina Curran, 1939 = B. cultrata Austen, 1893; B. satyra Hull, 1943b = B. cultrata Austen, 1893; B. prunella Hull, 1943b = B. funebris Macquart, 1834; Mesogramma flaviplurus Hall, 1927 = costalis Wiedemann, 1830. Six potentially new species in Ocyptamus Macquart, 1834 and two in Trichopsomyia Williston, 1888 are left unnamed, pending revisions of (the relevant parts of) these genera. A key to the species of Ocyptamus known from Surinam is given. Menno Reemer, Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity Naturalis, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, the Netherlands. [email protected]

Introduction of the Syrphidae of southeastern Brazil. Obvious Worldwide, around 6000 species of Syrphidae are reasons for the low number of published studies in known. More than 1600 of these were described this field are the limited (but increasing) number of from the Neotropics, but this might be only half or entomologists working on the Neotropical fauna, even less of the actual number of species occurring and the large taxonomical problems one faces when in this region (Thompson 1999). The lack of knowl- trying to get Neotropical material identified. Never- edge is strikingly illustrated by the recent review theless, faunistic data are potentially very valuable, of Copestylum species with bromeliad-dwelling lar- as their results can be used for all kinds of purposes, vae: of the 23 species treated in that paper, 22 were including biogeographic studies and range and status described as new (Rotheray et al. 2007). assessments in relation to conservational issues. The number of published faunistic studies on Neo- Surinam is a small (163.000 km2) country on the tropical Syrphidae is low. The few available are Guyana shield in the northern part of South America. often several decades old, such as the ones by Cur- More than 80% of the country is covered by primary ran (1934) and Van Doesburg (1962, 1966). More rainforest. Compared with other South American recently, Thompson (1981) gave a comprehensive countries, the syrphid fauna of Surinam is relatively account of the West Indian syrphid fauna, and well known. This is mainly the result of the com- Marinoni & Thompson (2003) published a review bined efforts of P.H. van Doesburg Sr. (Fig. 1) and

Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 153: 163–196, Figs 1–96, Table 1. [ISSN 0040–7496]. http://www.nev.nl/tve © 2010 Nederlandse Entomologische Vereniging. Published 1 December 2010. 164 Tijdschrift voor Entomologie, volume 153, 2010

Fig. 1. Portrait of P.H. van Doesburg Sr. (1892–1971), Fig. 2. Portrait of P.H. van Doesburg Jr., Leiden 2001 Baarn 1939 (photo P.H. van Doesburg Jr.). (photo Dr. Jürgen Deckert).

Fig. 3. Collecting localities of Syrphidae in Surinam. Blue dots: localities recorded by Van Doesburg (1962, 1966); pur- ple dots: recent localities. Acro- nyms indicate names of districts: BR = Brokopondo; CM = Com- mewijne; CR = Coronie; MA = Marowijne; NI = Nickerie; PA = Para; PM = Paramaribo; SA = Saramacca; SI = Sipaliwini; WA = Wanica.

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his son, P.H. van Doesburg Jr. (Fig. 2). From 1957 to some fine illustrations by his son. These papers also 1963, P.H. van Doesburg Jr. collected in Suri- include the results of collecting with malaise traps by nam, among which many Syrphidae, which he sent Geijskes (1968) and a small number of additional to his father in the Netherlands. Van Doesburg Sr. records by others. identified the specimens and published his results in Before Van Doesburg published his papers, hardly two papers (Van Doesburg 1962, 1966), containing anything was known about the Syrphidae of