Papers by Mª Ángeles Marcos García
We provide a checklist of the saproxylic beetles and syrphids species inhabiting the “dehesa” eco... more We provide a checklist of the saproxylic beetles and syrphids species inhabiting the “dehesa” ecosystem from western Iberian. We have studied the Biological Reserve of “Campanarios de Azaba”, Salamanca province, designated in 2013 as the first Entomological Reserve by the “Asociación española de Entomología”. During the 19 months of sampling period a total of 9, 603 specimens of saproxylic beetles belong to 157 species (40 families) and 477 specimens of saproxylic syrphids belonging to 18 species. In order to collect the specimens we used both emergence and window traps. Among the captured insects are ten threatened species either at European and Spanish levels, which maintain abundant populations inhabiting this “dehesa” ecosystem. --------------- Se aporta la relación de especies de coleópteros y sírfidos saproxílicos que habitan en ecosistemas de dehesa del oeste ibérico. Se ha estudiado la Reserva Biológica de Campanarios de Azaba, provincia de Salamanca, designada en 2013 como ...
Insects, 2020
Meromacrus is a genus of conspicuous syrphids with saprophagous larvae, ranging from the southern... more Meromacrus is a genus of conspicuous syrphids with saprophagous larvae, ranging from the southern United States to Argentina and Chile. However, this genus is in need of a taxonomic revision. Adults reared from larvae collected in Mexico and Peru, and other material available at different institutional collections were examined. Meromacrus cactorum sp. nov., from Peru, Meromacrus yucatense sp. nov., from Mexico, their puparia and breeding sites were described. A key to Meromacrus puparia is provided. The holotypes of Meromacrus canusium, Meromacrus gloriosus, Meromacrus laconicus and Meromacrus melmoth were also examined. The name Meromacrus draco is proposed as a junior synonym of M. gloriosus. Larvae of M. cactorum sp. nov. were found in decaying columnar cacti in Peru, while those of M. yucatense sp. nov. in a rot-hole of a Ceiba pentandra stump. Obtained results on both taxonomy and biology of these species serve as a first step towards a revision of the entire genus.
Zootaxa, 2006
Ministry of Science and Environmental Protection of Serbia (Grant Number 143037), the Provincial ... more Ministry of Science and Environmental Protection of Serbia (Grant Number 143037), the Provincial Secretariat for Science and Technological Development (Maintenance of biodiversity–“Hot spots” on the Balkan and Iberian Peninsula), the Spanish Ministerio de Medio Ambiente (MMA-040/2002), the Spanish Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia (CGL2005-0713/BOS and grant number AP2003-3998) and Generalitat Valenciana (ACOMP06/063).
Revue suisse de Zoologie, 2021
BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access t... more BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.
Zootaxa, 2020
Within the pollinator family Syrphidae, Eumerus Meigen, 1822 is a diverse genus with over 70 spec... more Within the pollinator family Syrphidae, Eumerus Meigen, 1822 is a diverse genus with over 70 species recorded in the Afrotropical Region. A new species is described here from Namibia and South Africa. Adults are small to medium size flies, with spur-like expansions in the metatarsomeres 2 and 3. DNA sequences of the Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene were obtained from Namibian specimens. This is only the second Eumerus species documented from Namibia, where it was recorded from The National Botanic Garden, Windhoek. The new species is compared with similar species such as Eumerus vestitus Bezzi, 1912, for which a lectotype is designated. In addition, a new and preliminary morphological concept of the Eumerus obliquus group is proposed and a key to its African species is provided.
Organisms Diversity & Evolution, 2020
The genus Eumerus Meigen 1822 (Diptera: Syrphidae) is widely distributed in the Old World, though... more The genus Eumerus Meigen 1822 (Diptera: Syrphidae) is widely distributed in the Old World, though recently introduced into America, and their larvae feed on decaying vegetal material and/or inside underground storage organs of many plants, sometimes generating economic losses as pests. However, little is known about Eumerus larval cycles and their interactions with host plants. Here, immatures of three Eumerus species from different continents are described, noting their feeding habits and host plants. Larvae of Eumerus figurans Walker 1859 were obtained from Hawaiian cultured ginger roots; puparium of Eumerus alpinus Rondani 1857 originated from larvae collected in Asphodelus ramosus L. in France; puparia of Eumerus superbus Shannon 1927 were reared from larvae found in two Zamiaceae species from Australia. Mitochondrial COI sequences served for diagnosing E. figurans larvae. Optical and scanning electron microscopy were used to describe body features, head skeletons, anterior spiracles, pupal spiracles, and posterior respiratory processes. Overall, E. alpinus resembles E. nudus Loew 1848 immatures. Eumerus superbus has a remarkable morphology among all described immatures of the genus, being the only Eumerus reported from gymnosperms. Head skeleton of E. figurans suggests this species is a filtering one. Present findings show that larvae of Eumerus can be separated at the species level and that this genus is polyphagous, feeding on a wide range of plant tissues and taxa, including commercial species. This study emphasizes immature stages and breeding sites as important means to understand species life cycles and the interactions with their host plants and ecosystems.
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2007
Twenty-three species of Copestylum (Diptera, Syrphidae) were reared from Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecu... more Twenty-three species of Copestylum (Diptera, Syrphidae) were reared from Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, and Trinidad from 1998 to 2004. Twenty-two were new species. We describe these new species, their breeding sites, and the third stage larva and/or the puparium of all 23 species. Adults had species-specific head shapes and colour patterns, but similarities between 14 of the species enabled two groups and three subgroups to be recognized. Nonetheless, the high level of morphological disparity suggests independent colonizations of bromeliads. Adult colour patterns appear to be predominantly cryptic in function and based on reflectiveness derived from matt to shiny integumental ground colours, combined with overlying areas of variously coloured hairs, dust, and pruinosity. In addition, disruptive spots, bands, and vittae occur on the face, thoracic pleurites, and second tergite. Larvae were saprophagous in either live or dead bromeliads with no overlap between categories. A major factor explaining variation in larval morphology could be access to food. Larvae in live bromeliads are characterized by varying levels of dorso-ventral flattening, and modifications to the mouthparts and prothorax. These features appear to facilitate feeding in the narrow spaces between overlapping bromeliad leaves. Larvae exploiting dead bromeliads are characterized by varying levels of armature to the thorax, and extensions to the anal segment. Armature either consists of arrangements of sclerotized spicules distributed at various places on the thorax or large hooks on the lateral margins. Armoured thoraces facilitate burrowing through decaying tissue, and extended anal segments may reduce exposure during respiration.
PLoS ONE, 2013
Saproxylic insect communities inhabiting tree hollow microhabitats correspond with large food web... more Saproxylic insect communities inhabiting tree hollow microhabitats correspond with large food webs which simultaneously are constituted by multiple types of plant-animal and animal-animal interactions, according to the use of trophic resources (wood-and insect-dependent sub-networks), or to trophic habits or interaction types (xylophagous, saprophagous, xylomycetophagous, predators and commensals). We quantitatively assessed which properties of specialised networks were present in a complex networks involving different interacting types such as saproxylic community, and how they can be organised in trophic food webs. The architecture, interacting patterns and food web composition were evaluated along sub-networks, analysing their implications to network robustness from random and directed extinction simulations. A structure of large and cohesive modules with weakly connected nodes was observed throughout saproxylic sub-networks, composing the main food webs constituting this community. Insect-dependent sub-networks were more modular than wood-dependent sub-networks. Wood-dependent sub-networks presented higher species degree, connectance, links, linkage density, interaction strength, and were less specialised and more aggregated than insect-dependent sub-networks. These attributes defined high network robustness in wood-dependent sub-networks. Finally, our results emphasise the relevance of modularity, differences among interacting types and interrelations among them in modelling the structure of saproxylic communities and in determining their stability.
Plant Ecology, 2006
This study investigates the pollination ecology and related floral traits of the species Daucus c... more This study investigates the pollination ecology and related floral traits of the species Daucus carota subsp. commutatus in the isolated archipelago of Columbretes, E. Spain, where bees are absent. Two populations were studied: a small population found on a relatively large island (Grossa) inhabited nowadays by three people; and a larger population on a smaller uninhabited island (Foradada). The plant, found also in other rocky coastal enclaves of the west Mediterranean, is totally self-compatible, andromonoecious, exhibiting strong protandrous dichogamy and sequential flowering of umbel orders, with limited probability of self pollination at the plant level. Pollination on both study islands is carried out solely by flies, mainly by Eristalis tenax (Syrphidae), a long distance visitor and efficient pollinator, but irregular migrant to the archipelago; and Lucilia sericata (Calliphoridae), an abundant flower visitor but less efficient pollinator dependent on human and avian wastes for its larval Keywords Habitat isolation Á Mediterranean islands Á Floral traits Á Efficiency of Syrphidae
Journal of Natural History, 2007
The puparial stage is described for each of four saproxylic hoverflies (Diptera, Syrphidae
European Journal of Entomology, 2001
Adults of Copestylum tamaulipanum and C. lentum were reared from larvae collected from decaying p... more Adults of Copestylum tamaulipanum and C. lentum were reared from larvae collected from decaying platyclades of the cactus Opuntia in the state of Veracruz (Mexico). The larvae and puparia of both species, as well as preliminary data about their life cycles are described. The feeding behaviour of the larva in relation to the morphology of the cephalopharyngeal skeleton is analysed.
The Canadian Entomologist, 2011
Study of specimens of Merodon Meigen collected in southwestern Europe resulted in new data and ta... more Study of specimens of Merodon Meigen collected in southwestern Europe resulted in new data and taxonomic changes for this genus. The cryptic species Merodon confusussp. nov. (Merodon equestris species group) is described based on specimens collected in Cabañeros National Park, central Spain. Morphological and molecular diagnostic characters are provided to separate members of the species group. Merodon aeneus fulvus Gil Collado is proposed as a junior synonym of Merodon pumilus Macquart. The first Iberian record of Merodon rufus Meigen is reported and updates of the revision of Iberian Merodon are provided.
Archives of Biological Sciences, 2010
In this short note we provide the first record of the hoverfly Sphiximorpha binominata, as well a... more In this short note we provide the first record of the hoverfly Sphiximorpha binominata, as well as one of the few known records of Sphiximorpha subsessilis from the Iberian Peninsula. They are two of the 11 Iberian species of hoverfly thought to be threatened with extinction at the European level. We propose S. binominata as a candidate to be included in the next version of the Invertebrate Red Data Book of Spain.
Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 2003
The larva and/or puparium of the Neotropical syrphids Habromyia coeruleithorax Williston, 1888, P... more The larva and/or puparium of the Neotropical syrphids Habromyia coeruleithorax Williston, 1888, Palpada furcata (Wiedemann, 1819), and six species of Meromacrus Rondani, 1848, are Þgured, described, and compared with other similar larvae. All of these larvae are similar in external form, having mouthparts adapted for Þltering suspended items of food, retractile anterior spiracles, prolegs with crochets, and extended anal segments (ϭlong-tailed larvae). Each species varied in the size and distribution of integumental setae and spicules and in the size and form of the pupal spiracles. Keys are provided to identify genera of Neotropical long-tailed syrphid larvae and to separate the six species of
Archives of Biological Sciences, 2013
Data are provided on two hoverfly species new to the Iberian Peninsula, Brachyopa grunewaldensis ... more Data are provided on two hoverfly species new to the Iberian Peninsula, Brachyopa grunewaldensis Kassebeer and Criorhina floccosa (Meigen), and one new to Spain, Eumerus consimilis Šimić & Vujić. New habitat and breeding data are presented.
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Papers by Mª Ángeles Marcos García