مجید جعفرلو

Baryscapus evonymellae (Bouché, 1834) (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) was rediscovered on Leucoma wiltshirei Collenette, 1938 (Lepidoptera, Erebidae) attacked by different parasitoids. This species had already been reported under different names; therefore, its inaccurate identifications were corrected. It was reared as a larval and pupal hyperparasitoid of two important primary parasitoids of L. wiltshirei including Brachymeria tibialis Steffan, 1958 (Hymenoptera, Chalcididae), and Dolichogenidea persica Abdoli, Mohammadi, Sedaratian-Jahromi & Farahani, 2023 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae). The last parasitoid-hyperparasitoid association is new. Its morphological characters were illustrated and its biological data and main characteristics were discussed.

Through a survey conducted in West Azarbaijan province, northwestern Iran in 2022, infested fruits of Elaeagnus angustifolia L. (Elaeagnaceae) were collected. Anarsia eleagnella Kuznetsov, 1957 (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) was obtained from laboratory rearing. A parasitic wasp was collected in the rearing container that was identified under Hyssopus geniculatus (Hartig, 1838) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). This parasitoid is a primary ectoparasitoid and a new record of H. geniculatus on A. eleagnella. Also, the association of H. geniculatus with E. angustifolia and the family Elaeagnaceae is new. Notes on the diagnostic characters of H. geniculatus are provided and illustrations of A. eleagnella and H. geniculatus are presented. The feeding behaviour of A. eleagnella larvae is preliminarily studied. Finally, the colour variations of the collected H. geniculatus specimens compared to the published literature are discussed.

This is the first case of host record for parasitoid wasps of the genus Diglyphus Walker (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) from the Anthomyiidae (Diptera) family. This result is based on specimens of D. anadolucus Doğanlar, 1982 which reared from parasitized larval specimen of Pegomya terebrans (Rondani) as a leaf miner of cotton thistle, Onopordum acanthium L. (Asteraceae). Diglyphus anadolucus is reported from Iran for the first time. Some biological notes and morphological characteristics of D. anadolucus along with related photographs are given. An updated checklist of the twelve known Diglyphus species in Iran togther with their host associations is also provided.

Considering the importance of the species of the genus Diglyphus Walker, 1844 (Hym., Eulophidae: Eulophinae) in the biological control of leafminers, a faunal study was conducted during 2018–2020 in alfalfa fields in West Azarbaijan province, northwestern Iran. Six Diglyphus species were collected and identified, i.e. Diglyphus crassinervis Erdös, 1958; D. isaea (Walker, 1838); D. poppoea Walker, 1848; D. propodealis Szelényi, 1978; D. pusztensis (Erdös & Novicky, 1951); and D. sabulosus Erdös, 1951; of which D. propodealis is a new record for Iranian fauna, that is known just from its type locality, Hungary. Notes on diagnostic characters and illustrations of D. propodealis are given. Its association with alfalfa fields is the first association report. All six reported species are new to the West Azarbaijan province. A distribution map of reported species is provided and the known Diglyphus species in association with alfalfa in Iran are also reviewed.

Species of the genus Necremnus Thomson, 1878 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) in Iran are reviewed based on published data and the newly collected specimens in West Azarbaijan province. The genus in Iran is represented by only two species N. leucarthros (Nees, 1834) and N. tidius (Walker, 1839). Hereby, two additional species N. artynes (Walker, 1839) and N. cosmopterix Ribes & Bernardo, 2015 are also identified as new records for the fauna of Iran. Necremnus tidius (Walker, 1839) was also found in Northwestern Iran as a new local distributional record. An illustrated key for identifying the known Necremnus species from Iran and a short description of the newly recorded species are provided. The distribution map of the Iranian species is also presented.

In this study, larval midgut α-amylase activity of the Mediterranean flour moth reared on wheat flour under laboratory conditions was studied. Enzyme activity was evaluated by using a commercial kit and an autoanalayzer device. Specific enzyme activity was measured as international unit per mg protein (IU/mg Protein). In this study, some α-amylase enzyme properties such as optimum temperature and pH of enzyme activity, enzyme activity during different hours of the day and night, enzyme activity at different developmental stages of adult male and female, effect of starvation period, and the effect of storage conditions of enzyme at specified periods in two different temperatures were studied. The results revealed that incubation temperature significantly affected enzyme activity for both sexes and optimal enzyme activity was detected in 40˚C for both male and females. pH values also significantly affected enzyme activity and the optimal pHs for amylase activity in both sexes were 5. Effects of enzyme concentration on α-amylase activity were significant in both sexes. Increasing the concentration of enzyme in both sexes caused a sharp increase in enzyme activity. Storage period in -20˚C did not decreased enzyme activity significantly in both sexes, but storage period in 4˚C in males significantly decreased the activity in comparison with the control. The results of studying enzyme activity during 24 hr. periods showed significant differences during day and night and the most and the least enzyme activities in both sexes were recorded in 12 and 24 o’clock, respectively. Enzyme activity in different developmental stages showed significant differences and the most enzyme activities were detected in 5th female larvae, 5th male larvae, 4th male and females, female and male pre-pupa, and female and male adults, respectively. In male and female pupae, no detectable activity was observed.Enzyme activity in male and female fifth instar larvae showed Significant difference. Starvation periods significantly affected the digestive enzyme activity in both male and female larvae and the trends of enzyme activity during 4 days of starvation was the same in both sexes. The most and the least enzyme activity were detected 2 and 4 days after starvation, respectively.