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Issue: Vol. 87 No. 1: 21 Aug. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-08-21
DOI: 10.12976/jib/2026.87.1.1
Page range: 1-22
Abstract views: 209
PDF downloaded: 4

Taxonomic notes on Volucella (Diptera: Syrphidae) from India, with new records and new synonymies

Department of Zoology; School of Bioengineering & Biosciences; Lovely Professional University; Jalandhar; Punjab; 144411 India; Department of Zoology; SHMM Govt. Degree College; Anantnag; Jammu and Kashmir; 192101 India
Department of Zoology; Govt. Degree College; Kulgam; Jammu and Kashmir; 192231 India
Department of Zoology; University of Cambridge; Downing Street; Cambridge – CB2 3EJ; UK
Department of Zoology, School of Bioengineering & Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, Punjab, 144411 India
Zoological Survey of India; Prani Vigyan Bhawan; M-Block; New Alipore; Kolkata; 700053 India
Department of Zoology; School of Bioengineering & Biosciences; Lovely Professional University; Jalandhar; Punjab; 144411 India
Diptera taxonomy hoverfly south India new record new synonymy. distributional checklist.

Abstract

Twelve species of the genus Volucella are currently recognised from India, including the first records of V. inanoides Hervé-Bazin, 1923, and V. linearis Walker, 1852, from the country. Volucella xanthopygata Curran, 1928, is here synonymized with Volucella peleterii Macquart, 1834. Volucella signata Brunetti, 1923, previously listed as a valid species in Indian checklists, is also confirmed as a synonym of V. peleterii. Volucella kinnaurensis Sengupta, Naskar & Banerjee, 2023, is treated as a junior synonym of V. inanoides. Previous misidentifications of Volucella ruficauda Brunetti, 1907, from India and Pakistan are corrected to Volucella varipila Coe, 1964. A diagnosis and updated identification key to all Indian species are provided. High-quality images of newly collected specimens, including detailed microphotographs of terminalia, as well as type and non-type images where available, are presented to facilitate identification. These updates significantly refine the taxonomy and distributional knowledge of Indian Volucella species.

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