نشریه نامه انجمن حشره شناسی ایران
سال بیست و هشتم شماره 2 (پیاپی 43، زمستان 1387)

During 2000-2004, in a faunistic survey of primitive oribatids (Acari: Oribatida: Macropylina), pycnonotic and poronotic oribatid mites in Mazandaran province, 26 species, 15 genera and 13 families that marked by asterisk are newly recorded from Iran. Also distribution of each species is presented together with the figures of some species. Macropylina: Trhypochthonius* tectorum (Berlese) (Trhypochthoniidae*); Malaconothrus* egregius Berlese (Malaconothridae); Nanhermannia* laevis Sitnikova & Gilyarov (Nanhermanniidae*). Pycnonota: Hermanniella* dolosa Grandjean (Hermanniellidae*); Amerobelba* decedens Berlese (Amerobelbidae*); Amerus* polonicus Kulczynski (Ameridae*); Eremaeus* cordiformis Grandjean (Eremaeidae*); Micreremus gracilior Willmann (Micreremidae); Scapheremaeus patella Berlese (Cymbaeremaeidae); Microzetorchestes* emeryi (Coggi) (Zetorchestidae*); Furcoribula* furcillata (Nordenskiold) (Astegistidae*); Liacarus (L.) coracinus (Koch); L. (L.) brevilamellatus (Mihelcic); L. (Dorycranosus) splendens (Coggi); L. (D.) zachvatkini Kulijev (Liacaridae); Xenillus* (X.) clypeator Robineau-Desvoidy (Xenillidae*); Gustavia* microcephala (Nicolet) (Gustaviidae*). Poronota: Scutovertex minutus (Koch) (Scutoverticidae); Eupelops* acromios (Herman); E. torulosus (Koch) (Phenopelopidae*); Oribatula (Zygoribatula) exarata Berlese; O. (O.) tibialis tibialis (Nicolet); O. (O.) tibialis allifera Subias; O. (O.) pallida Banks (Oribatulidae); Dometorina* plantivaga (Berlese) (Hemileiidae*); Oribatella* sp. (Oribatellidae*); Latilamellobates* naltschicki Shaldybina (Ceratozetidae).

Demographic parameters of Habrobracon hebetor Say (Hym.: Braconidae) reared on the last larval instars of Galleria mellonella (L.) were studied at 20, 25, 28, 30 and 35 ± 0.5°C, 60 ± 5% R.H. and 16L: 8D h conditions. The gross fecundity rate of the parasitoid was 43.17 eggs at 20°C that was approximately half of it at other temperatures. Net fecundity and net fertility rates increased as the temperature increased. Their lowest values were 8.49 and 8.405 at 20 ± 0.5°C and the highest values were 30.47, 30.47 eggs at 30°C, respectively. Their values decreased more than 30% and amounted to 21.49 and 20.63 eggs at 35, respectively. Reproductive value (Vx) was at maximum value at the early period of female reproduction and decreased as females aged. In other words, it was at peak, when females were 30, 18, 14, 14 and 11 day-old at above temperatures. The highest value of net reproductive rate (R0) was 17.06 at 30°C and the lowest (6.27) at 35°C. The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) had the highest value (0.17) at 30°C and the lowest (0.039) at 20°C. The highest value of finite rate of increase (λ) was 1.186 at 30°C and the lowest (1.04) at 20°C. In other words, the parasitoid population would increase 11.86% daily at 30°C. Mean generation time (T) was the longest (41.81 days) at 20°C and the shortest (14.93 days) at 35°C. The longest doubling time (DT) (17.82 days) was obtained at 20°C and the shortest (4.072) was at 30°C. These results showed that the temperature at 30°C would provide a more favorable condition for mass rearing of H. hebetor.

The acorn weevil, Curculio glandium Marsham, is an important forest pest of oak trees in most of countries as well as Iran. The pest disturbs regeneration of host trees by feeding on their acorn. The necessitate to control the pest as well as limitations of chemical pesticide application in natural resources, different indigenous entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs): Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and Steinernema bicornutum were tested under laboratory conditions upon the fifth instar larvae of acorn weevil collected from Arasbaran forest. In the first experiment, penetration assay was conducted using a suspension of 4000 IJs of the EPNs per 1 ml distilled water in multi-well plates. The plates were incubated for 40 h at 25ºC and dead larvae were dissected. Penetration percentage was %1.6 for H. bacteriophora and %0.55 for S. bicornutum. In the second experiment, H. bacteriophora and S. bicornutum were applied at different concentrations (0, 150, 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 IJs per 1ml of distilled water) in the 9 cm Petri plates lined with filter papers in order to test their capability of parasitization of the fifth instar larvae of C. glandium. The experiments were conducted at two temperature ranges (21-24ºC and 25-28ºC). Maximum mortality caused by H. bacteriophora and S. bicornutum were %58.3, %25 (at 21-24ºC) and %63.5, %30.5 (at 25-28ºC), respectively. Therefore, H. bacteriophora caused higher larval mortality comparing to S. bicornutum at both temperature ranges. Analysis of variance revealed significant nematode species and concentration as well as temperature effects on larval mortality. By increasing of concentration of nematode and temperature, larval mortality was raised. The highest penetration in larva and the highest mortality of fifth instar larvae of C. glandium was observed for H. bacteriophora under the both temperature ranges. Based on probit analysis, the LC50 of H. bacteriophora at two temperature ranges of 21-24ºC and 25-28ºC were determined 1331 and 1037 IJs/ml, respectively. Regression analysis showed significant relationship between concentrations and larval mortality in both nematodes and both temperature ranges. Therefore, H. bacteriophora comparing to S. bicornutum is more effective and can be suggested for complementary studies toward finding a suitable biocontrol agent of the pest.

During 2006 a survey was carried out on tetranychid mites and their natural enemies in Maragheh apple orchards (North-west of Iran). In this survey a total of 20 species within the families Tetranychidae, Phytoseiidae, Stigmaeidae, Anystidae, Iolinidae, Coccinellidae, Chrysopidae and Thripidae were collected and identified. One species of the Iolinidae identified as Neopronematus neglectus (Kuznetzov) and its identity was confirmed by Dr. Edward Ueckermann from Plant Protection Research Institute of South Africa. It is reported here as a new record to Acari fauna of Iran.

Horizontal transmission of an isolate of the etomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana KCF102, was examined by allowing inoculated Eurygaster integriceps Put. adults to mate with non-inoculated ones. In case of susceptibility to B. bassiana, there was no significant difference between the males and females. However, there was significant difference among treatments for mortality of non-inoculated adults. It meant horizontal transmission could be happened between the inoculated and non-inoculated adults. Recording no significant difference among the treatments of the inoculated males + non-inoculated males and treatment with inoculated females + non-inoculated males revealed that this kind of horizontal transmission was not merely due to the mating behavior, given that the same transmission could be existed between inoculated and non-inoculated males or between those of female adults. There was significant difference for mortality percentage of adults among the five body-part treatments, ranging from 16.6 to 48.9, with the highest mortality for total body treatment and the lowest one for the pronotum.

Grooming behaviour is one of the important mechanisms of honeybee defence against parasitic mites. In addition to genetical characteristics, environmental conditions affect the behavioural traits of honeybee colonies. The main objective of this study was to examine the effect of temperature and humidity on the ability of honeybee workers to remove varroa mites from their body. One hundred worker bees from resistant and susceptible colonies were placed in cages and infested with 40 varroa mites per cage. Cages from each group of workers were randomly assigned to a combination of temperature and humidity treatments. Individual cages were held in incubators at 10, 25 and 34C under low (20%), medium (50%) and high (80%) humidity. The entire experiment was replicated three times (18 cages per replicate). The proportion of mites falling into the base of the cages (grooming), or migrating within the closed system and the number of dead bees were monitored on day 2, 4 and 6 of experiment. At the end of experiment the proportion of mites on the live bees, dead bees and in the equipment was also determined. The results showed significant differences in the ability of the two groups to groom mites off their bodies and that the relative effectiveness of the grooming in the two groups of bees was dependent upon the combination of temperature and humidity to which they were exposed. Total mite mortality of the two groups of bees was also different; however, it was not influenced by temperature. Total mite mortality may include grooming, or the natural mite fall that cannot relocate their host. In the programs that are attempting to breed bees with increased grooming behaviour and enhanced resistance to Varroa destructor (Anderson & Trueman), the environmental conditions should be considered under which experiments are carried out.

The morphology of the adults, egg, larva and pupa of Anopheles persiensis Linton, Sedaghat & Harbach, an Iranian member of the Holarctic Maculipennis Group, was studied and compared with the morphology of the closely related and sympatric A. maculipennis Meigen. Anopheles persiensis was formally recognized based on DNA evidence and egg morphology. The fourth member of the group, Anopheles persiensis, is described in detail and the egg illustrated using scanning electron microscopy.

The common green lacewing is an important natural enemy used for pest control in greenhouses. It is also very common in many agricultural systems. Hence, studying lethal and sublethal effects of insecticides on this predator would be useful. Toxicity of endosulfan, imidacloprid and indoxacarb was assessed on 1st instar larvae of Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) in laboratory. Residual bioassays were carried out in glass Petri dishes. The LC50 values, for endosulfan, imidacloprid and indoxacarb were estimated 251, 24.6 and 133 mg ai/l, respectively. Imidacloprid was the most toxic among insecticides tested. To assess the sublethal effects, the 1st instars were treated with LC25 of each insecticide. Thereafter, these effects were studied using fertility life table experiments. The analysis of variance revealed significant difference between treatments and control with respect to developmental time of the 1st instar larvae. However, no significant difference was observed among endosulfan, imidacloprid and indoxacarb treatments considering the larval developmental time. Differences between treatments and control were not significant for the developmental time of the 2nd and 3rd instars, pupae, sex ratio, adult longevity, and adult fertility. The results showed that only net reproduction rate (R0) was significantly affected by treatments. The gross reproductive rate (GRR), intrinsic rate of increase (rm), doubling time (DT), mean generation time (T) and finite rate of increase (λ) were not affected. The highest and the lowest amounts of rm were 0.178 and 0.169 in control and indoxacarb, respectively. Imidacloprid was the most toxic of the insecticides tested on the 1st instar followed by indoxacarb and endosulfan. If results similar to laboratory findings are obtained in field conditions, these insecticides might be appropriate candidates for IPM programs.

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lep.: Plutellidae) is one of the most destructive insect pests of cruciferous crops throughout the world. In this research, the demographic parameters of P. xylostella were studied on five rapeseed cultivars including Licord, Modena, Okapi, RGsoo3 and REGXkobra. The experiments were conducted in a growth chamber at temperature of 25 ± 1°C, 60 ± 5% RH and a photoperiod of 16: 8 (L: D) hr. The mortality of preimaginal stages differed from 47.65 to 65.75% on Modena and REGXkobra, respectively. The life expectancy of newly laid eggs and one-day-old adults of P. xylostella was estimated as 13.48, 4.90; 14.69, 10.84; 15.39, 7.72; 16.25, 12.23; 15.06 and 6.05 days on Licord, Modena, Okapi, RGsoo3 and REGXkobra, respectively. There was significant difference between net reproductive rates (Ro) of the cultivars. The highest value of Ro belonged to RGsoo3 (74.97 ± 7.99). The longest generation time was on Rgsoo3 while the shortest one belonged to the Modena. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm) on Modena was significantly differed from other cultivars emphasizing that Modena was the most sensitive cultivar to the diamondback moth than the others.

Sergentomyia (Sintonius) clydei (Sinton) is for the first time recorded from the endemic localities of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sindh, Punjab and N.W.F province (Pakistan). In view of the published reports about the detection of encephalitis viruses from the species of the genus Sergentomyia Franca & Theodor from the Indian localities and their possible role in kala-azar transmission, the correct identification of sand flies becomes of significant value in the study of epidemiology of leishmaniases and other viral diseases. In the present paper, species of the subgenus Sintonius Nitzulescu are not only keyed and their distributional ranges are given but in order to facilitate zoologists and medical researchers, the morphology of diagnostic characters of S. clydei, especially mouth parts and male and female genitalia are studied, and results presented. In this light, their phylogenetic relationships are also briefly discussed.