Description of the third stage larva and puparium of two hoverflies (Diptera, Syrphidae) that prey on aphids in Mediterranean crops

The genera Eupeodes Osten Sacken, 1877 and Paragus Latreille, 1804 (Syrphidae: Syrphinae) are two aphi- dophagous common hoverflies with worldwide distribution. However, the information regarding the morphology of the immature stages of both genera is scarce. All known larvae of Eupeodes and Paragus have a predatory feeding habit, mainly on soft-bodied hemipterans. In this work we described the puparium of Eupeodes (Eupeodes) nuba (Wiedemann, 1830) and the third stage larva and puparium of Paragus (Paragus) bicolor (Fabricius, 1794) in detail by using Scanning Electron Microscope and stereomicroscope techniques. We present the first taxonomic key of all known larvae/puparium of Eupeodes species and propose a new morphological character. In addition, we report two new aphid prey and a new support plant for the development of Paragus (P.) bicolor. We propose three morphological characteristics to distinguish the immature stages of Paragus. An update to the taxonomic key for the larvae/puparium of Paragus is provided