JOURNAL OF INSECT BIODIVERSITY AND SYSTEMATICS
Year:2019 | Volume:5 | Issue:1|Papers Count:7

A survey on sawflies (Hymenoptera: Symphyta) fauna of Gorgan County, northern Iran, during 2015-2017, led to the identification of sixteen species. Six species including Arge cingulata (Jakowlew, 1891); Calameuta pallipes (Klug, 1803); Phylloecus xanthostoma (Eversmann, 1847); Allantus cingulatus (Scopoli, 1763); Ametastegia pallipes (Spinola, 1808) and Nematus lucidus (Panzer, 1801) are recorded for Golestan fauna for the first time and C. pallipes is a new record for the Iranian fauna.

Arthropods were sampled on an early-and late-season crop of watermelon in the 2016 cropping season using motorized suction sampler swept along 5m length of the middle row of 20 experimental plots at Federal University Wukari. Specimens were sorted to morphotypes, feeding guilds and as dominant based on percentage relative abundance (RA) and frequency of occurrence (FO). Different species diversity indices were computed. The collections made on the early-and late-sown crops were compared using Jaccard’ s Similarity index (Cj). Spatial distribution pattern of the dominant arthropods were determined using Taylor’ s power law and Iwao’ s patchiness regression. Results showed that collections on both crops were similar (Cj= 0. 83). A total of 14, 466 specimens sorted to 1 order (Araneae) in the class Arachnida and 64 species in 41 families and 8 orders in the class Hexapoda were collected. Data showed moderately high species diversity (H = 2. 8-3. 0), richness (R = 6. 0-7. 2), but low evenness (E = 0. 26-0. 39). Coleopterous insects (22 species), dominated by chrysomelids, were the most diverse and species-rich followed by hymenopterans, mainly formicids. Dominant arthropods (RA≥ 1. 0 and FO≥ 25. 0%) included Asbecesta nigripennis, Aulacophora africana, Philanthus triangulum (parasitoid of bee), Pheidole sp., Camponotus sp., Rhynocoris nitidulus and spiders. Most dominant arthropods were aggregated; dispersion varied with model used and crop season. Only 27. 3% of the diverse and rich arthropods on watermelon at Wukari require pest management intervention and validation of their dispersion pattern in large-scale watermelon production.

In this study, the list of Collembola from west of Iran and collection information such as study site, habitats, e. g. soils, grasslands, leaflitter, vegetation, snowfields, etc., and collectors has been presented between years 2013-3018. Moreover some samples were collected and the identified by the author during 2017-2018. In the last case, Collembolans were extracted using the respirator or Berlese funnels. When greater clearing was required, Nesbitt's solution (40g chloral hydrate, 25 mL distilled water, and 2. 5 mL concentrated acetic acid) was used for heavily pigmented specimens. In the first Iranian checklist of Collembola published in 2013, 17 species, 15 genera and seven families were introduced from west of Iran. After review and analysis of the available literature and the examination of samples collected by the author from west of Iran, were listed 88 species, belonging to 42 genera, 16 families and four orders. The genus Entomobrya and Folsomia are having highest number of species for analyzed region. An up-to-date systematic checklist of Collembolans has been provided.

Blow flies of the subfamily Calliphorinae (Dipt.: Calliphoridae) were studied in the East Azerbaijan and West Azerbaijan provinces-Iran, during 2017-2018. Six species belonging to three genera were identified of which the genera Bellardia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1863; Cynomya Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 and four species Bellardia pandia (Walker, 1849); Bellardia viarum (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830); Bellardia vulgaris (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) and Cynomya mortuorum (Linnaeus, 1761) are new records for the Iran insect fauna. A review of Iranian species of the subfamily Calliphorinae is provided.

The species of Notanisus Walker (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae: Cleonyminae) from Iran were revised. Four Palaearctic species are recognized: N. clavatus Bouč ek, N. oulmesiensis (Delucchi), N. vanharteni Gibson and N. versicolor Walker; including one species with macropterous male and the rests with macropterous females. Of which, N. oulmesiensis and N. versicolor are new records for Iran. The species are briefly described based on available materials, illustrated through macrophotography, and their distributions in Iran was mapped.

Iranian species of the genus Erigorgus Forster, 1869 are taxonomically reviewed. The sampling was done using Malaise traps in Eastern provinces of Iran. Two species, Erigorgus cerinops (Gravenhorst, 1829) and Erigorgus fibulator (Gravenhorst, 1829) are reviewed, of which the second species represents occurrence of this genus in East of Iran. A brief diagnosis based on the reliable morphological characters, as well as an illustrated key to Iranian species are provided. The geographical distribution of the recorded species in the Palaearctic regions is also discussed.

During a comprehensive survey of the heterostigmatic mites associated with dung beetles in the hyrcanian forests, northern Iran, several colonies of the pygmephoroid mites including four species of the genus Spatulaphorus Rack, 1993, S. copridis Khaustov, 2007, S. gorganica Rahiminejad & Hajiqanbar, 2011, S. vladimiri Khaustov, 2005 and S. geotruporum Khaustov, 2005 phoretic on Geotrupes spiniger (Marsham, 1802) were found. This is the first record of S. geotruporum from Asia. Furthermore, this is the first record of phoresy of S. geotruporum on G. spiniger.