Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics

Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics

Notes on the identity and occurrence of Geron mystacinus Bezzi, 1924 (Bombyliidae: Toxophorinae: Gerontini) in Iran

Authors
1 Plant Protection Research Department, Qazvin Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Qazvin, Iran
2 J. Linsley Gressitt Center for Research in Entomology, Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
Abstract
The genus Geron belongs to the monotypic tribe Gerontini Hesse within the subfamily Toxophorinae Schiner. Geron occurs on all continents and is divided into four subgenera, of which only Geron sensu stricto is known from the Old World. Previously, three species of Geron were known from Iran: Geron kozlovi Zaitzev, 1972; Geron krymensis Paramonov, 1929; and Geron olivierii Macquart, 1840. Here, Geron mystacinus Bezzi, 1924 is newly recorded from Iran. The adult genitalia are illustrated, and the species identity is briefly discussed.

Graphical Abstract

Notes on the identity and occurrence of Geron mystacinus Bezzi, 1924 (Bombyliidae: Toxophorinae: Gerontini) in Iran
Keywords

Bezzi, M. (1924) The Bombyliidae of the Ethiopian Region. British Museum (Natural History), London. 390 p.
Brown, B.V. (1993) A further chemical alternative to critical-point-drying for preparation of small (or large) flies. Fly Times, 11, 10.
Evenhuis, N.L., & Greathead, D.J. (2015) World Catalog of Bee Flies (Diptera: Bombyliidae), Revised Edition. https://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/bombcat/bombcat2015.pdf [Accessed July 25, 2025]
Greathead, D. (2001) Notes on the Geron gibbosus Olivier, 1789 and G. halteralis Wiedemann, 1820 species groups (Diptera: Bombyliidae). II - additional species and records from Europe and Asia. Studia Dipterologica, 8 (1), 161-173.
Katbeh-Bader, A. & Arabiat, S. (2004) The bee flies (Diptera: Bombyliidae) of Jordan. Zootaxa, 654, 1-48. [DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.654.1.1]
Theodor, O. (1983) The genitalia of Bombyliidae (Diptera). Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Jerusalem. 275 p.
Zaitzev, V.F. (1966) [Parasitic flies of the family Bombyliidae (Diptera) in the fauna of Transcaucasia]. Nauka, Moscow & Leningrad. 375 p.
Zaitzev, V.F. (1996) On the Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Israel. II. Entomologicheskoe Obozrenie, 75, 686-697; [In Russian; English translation, 1997, in Entomological Review, 76, 1076-1086].
Volume 11, Issue 4
Autumn 2025
Pages 973-980

  • Receive Date 11 July 2025
  • Revise Date 01 August 2025
  • Accept Date 16 August 2025
  • Publish Date 15 August 2025