hossein barahoei

Kraepelinia Vachon, 1974 is a monotypic buthid scorpion genus, with its populations distributed in Iran and Turkmenistan. A recent series of specimens were collected from the Sistan region, southeast Iran, during 2019-2023 and used for morphological and molecular studies. The mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene was sequenced for molecular research. Kraepelinia palpator was re-described based on the new specimens. Based on phylogenetic analysis, K. palpator was placed sister to Mesobuthus Vachon, 1950. Phylogenetic trees and genetic distances confirmed the Monophyly of all studied genera of Buthidae in this study. This study found the highest genetic distance (0.155) between K. palpator and Androctonus sp., and the lowest (0.102) was with Mesobuthus rakhshanii. Kraepelinia runs as the most similar taxon to Mesobuthus based on morphological characters. This genus's most important morphological characteristics are the placement of eb trichobothria on the manus and having teeth on the ventral surface of the third metasomal segment. The members of this species are distributed in the lowlands areas.

Kerman Province is one of the endemic foci of scorpionism in southeastern Iran. Totally 17 species are reported for Kerman Province fauna. The current study seeks to determine the fauna of medically important scorpions in northern parts of this province.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2019 to March 2021. The specimens were captured from different areas, by rock-rolling during day and using Ultraviolet light at night. The specimens were pre-served in ethanol (80%) and then identified using reliable identification keys for scorpions.

Totally, 499 specimens were captured from eight cities in northern Kerman. In total, 11 species belonging to three families were identified. Buthacus sp. is reported for the first time from Kerman Province. Buthacus sp., Hotten-totta cf. juliae, and Hottentotta cf. schach, were the lowest in frequency of occurrence, against Mesobuthus navidpouri as the highest frequency.

The results of this study are useful for the preparation of regional or monovalent antivenom for the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute. Additionally, the obtained data are useful for the effective planning of scorpion control programs in the northern parts of Kerman Province, Iran.

Three species of Hemiscorpius reported from Hormozgan province for which the available antivenoms do not have the proper effect for treating patients, so it was necessary to do an exact identification of the existing species, as the first step to manage the treatment procedures. Considering the morphological similarity of the species, the aim of this research is the molecular study of the samples to accurately identify the species. Hemiscorpius specimens were collected from various locations of Hormozgan province in 2021 to 2023. Cytochrome oxidase I gene was amplified and sequenced. Four sequences obtained from Hemiscorpius specimens collected from Hormozgan province and three sequences from NCBI were analyzed. Bayesian inference and Maximum likelihood phylogenetic trees constructed and discussed. Bayesian inference and Maximum likelihood phylogenetic trees showed similar results. Hemiscorpius acanthocercus placed at the base of the tree as an older species. Hemiscorpius enischnochela is placed next to H. lepturus as the newest species at the tip of the tree. The results confirmed the validity of three species, H. acanthocercus, H. enischnochela and H. lepturus. Hemiscorpius lepturus is placed as a sister group of H. enischnochela, while H. lepturus morphologically is similar to H. acanthocercus. Molecular data from COI gene confirmed the validity of three independent species consisting: H. acanthocercus, H. enischnochela and H. lepturus. Hemiscorpius acanthocercus and H. lepturus are known having dangerous venom for humans and there are reports of death due to their stings. Considering the importance of the members of this genus from the medical point of view, it is necessary to examine all the species of this genus.

Hemiscorpius species are distributed in Africa and Asia. Seven species of this genus have been identified in Iran of which six species have been reported from Hormozgan province. Members of this genus are the most dangerous scorpions in Iran. Scorpions were collected by moving stones during the day and searching at night using portable UV lights from 2011 to 2022 from different areas in Hormozgan province. Three species were identified from Hormozgan province including Hemiscorpius acanthocercus, H.enischnocela and H. shahii which are endemic to Iran. These species have limited distribution and were reported only from the south of Iran. The number of trichobothria are 3, 10-12 and 15-17 in H. acanthocercus, H. enischnochela and H. shahii, respectively. The measured values showed that H. Shahii is larger than H. enischnochela and H. acanthocercus. Specimens of H. acanthocercus are brown to dark brown samples with dark metasomal segment V. There have been reports of death from biting this species. Members of H. enischnochela are light brown to yellow samples. Members of H. Shahii are large brown samples. All three species have sexual dimorphism. Although these three species can be distinguished based on their morphological characters, the molecular investigation is needed to confirm the validity of all species of this genus. Identifying species and determining their distribution range is very useful in facilitating education and treatment management.

Scorpions are nocturnal animals that feed on invertebrates and other arachnids. So far, 10 species of scorpions from the family Buthidae have been reported from the Sistan region. Sampling was done using UV ultralight at night and direct search or digging during the day, from different areas in the Sistan region in 2021 and 2022. Examination of 117 collected scorpion specimens led to the identification of seven species belonging to six genera of the family Buthidae including Androctonus cf. crassicauda (Olivier, 1807), A. sistanus Barahoei & Mirshamsi, 2022, Kraepelinia palpator (Birula, 1903), Mesobuthus rakhshanii sp. nov., Odontobuthus tirgari Mirshamsi et al., 2013, Orthochirus persa (Birula, 1900), and Sassanidothus gracilis (Birula, 1900). Mesobuthus rakhshanii sp. nov. was described as a new species for the world fauna. This species has a dominant population in the region, which was collected from all stations. All specimens were fixed in 80% alcohol and kept in the author's personal collection. Androctonus species are dangerous scorpions that are distributed in the Sistan region. Identifying dangerous species is important and practical for health management. This is possible by identifying the fauna of scorpions in the region and determining the range of distribution of each species.

Species of four chrysidoid families, Bethylidae, Dryinidae, Embolemidae, and Sclerogibbidae that occurred in Iran are reviewed. A total of 54 species within 27 genera from Iran are listed. The family Bethylidae with 34 species belonging to 16 genera was the largest group followed by Dryinidae with 17 species belonging to eight genera. The known Bethylidae species from Iran certainly represent a very small piece of the world fauna, distributed mainly in the Palaearctic region. Of the seventeen species of Dryinidae, the known distribution of ten species is known yet limited to the Palaearctic region, but five species are distributed in the north of the Afrotropical region (Arabian peninsula). The families, Embolemidae and Sclerogibbidae each represented by two and a single species in Iran, respectively. Embolemus huberi Olmi is here recorded from Kirghizstan, Turkey and Turkmenistan for the first time. Until now, no species of the families Plumariidae and Scolebythidae have been recorded from Iran. Despite the importance and diversity of both bethylids and dryinids, it seems that the least attempts have been done to study their fauna in Iran.

The occurrence of Pauesia silana Tremblay, as an aphid parasitoid (Hym., Braconidae, Aphidiinae) in Tunisia is documented. The parasitoid was found in association with the Aleppo pine aphid, Cinara palaestinensis Hille Ris Lambers, infesting Pinus halepensis. Specimens were collected by the rearing of the mummified aphids from the colonies infested the pine trees in the Arboretum of the Institut Supérieur Agronomique Chott Mériem (ISA CM - Tunisia) during March–April 2021. A brief diagnosis is provided for the recorded parasitoid. This is the first record of a Pauesia species in Tunisia (out of the purposeful introduction of Pauesia antennata Mukerji). Two secondary parasitoids including Asaphes vulgaris Walker and Pachyneuron aphidis (Bouché) (Hym., Chalcidoidea, Pteromalidae) have also emerged from the mummified aphids. The known Cinara aphids and their associated parasitoids in the North African country are reviewed. Both Aleppo pine aphid and the newly detected parasitoid might be considered exotic species in North Africa, sourced from a recent accidental introduction inside the Mediterranean area, or a horizontal expansion across the North African countries.

An updated checklist of the scorpiofauna of Iran is presented. The checklist is based on records of scorpion species which their presence have been confirmed in Iran through field expeditions, examination of scorpion collections, literature review, and personal communications with researchers. According to the presented checklist the scorpion fauna of Iran consists of 68 valid species (41 endemic to Iran) belonging to 19 genera and four families and 6 doubtful reports (belong family Buthidae). Hemiscorpius gaillardi (Vachon, 1974) and Compsobuthus jakesi Kovařík, 2003 reported for the first time from Hormozgan province. Odontobuthus tavighiae Navidpour et al., 2013 collected for the first time from Fars province. Kraepelinia palpator (Birula, 1903) and O. tirgari Mirshamsi et al., 2013 were new record for South Khorasan province fauna. The list is dominated by members of the family Buthidae (58 species) with 85.3% of total species. The level of regional endemism exceeds 60.3%. A dichotomic identification key to the Iranian species on the basis of a DELTA database has been provided.

The Sexual dimorphism (SD) in body size is very common among the scorpions. In this study, the SD was investigated in two aspects of size and shape in the genus Odontobuthus Vachon, 1950 as a small genus of the family Buthidae. This genus has six fossorial species of which four are distributed in Iran. For this purpose, 43 morphometric variables, consisting of 38 metric measurements and five meristic characters were digitized in the six species, O. bidentatus, O. doriae, O. tavighiae, O. tirgari, O. sp.1 and O. sp.2. The results show that Sexual Size Dimorphism (SSD) were significant in three species: O. doriae, O. tavighiae and O. sp.2. While O. sp.1 represented a SD for more aspects of shape, O. bidentatus did not show a significant SD for all studied traits. The amount of SD in size and shape were not the same in different species. The results showed that males have larger metasoma than females even when they are pulled to the same size. Having larger metasoma may correspond to a more efficient performance during mating, predation or combat with other males, so it should be under a high sexual selection. Type II ANOVA showed a significant interaction between species and sex for shape, but not for size. It suggests that the evolution of SD for size has been in parallel for all studied species, while it has been in different directions for shape. Among meristic variables, only the number of pectin denticles were sexually dimorphic, with males having more denticles than females in all studied species.

Superfamily Cynipoidea is a large group with about 223 genera and 3000 species in the world. In this study fauna of this superfamily were studied in Sistan region. Samples collected in 2010-2011. All samples were collected by sweeping net and Malaise trap. Tottaly, eighty samples were collected which consist six species belonging six genera and four subfamily as follow: Melanips sp. from the subfamily Figitinae, Aspicera abbreviata Belizin, 1952 and Callaspidia aberrans Kieffer, 1901 from the subfamily Aspicerinae, Alloxysta brevis Thomson, 1862 from the subfamily Charipinae, Isocolus sp. and Saphronecrus irani from the subfamily Cynipinae. C. aberrans is recorded for the first time from Iran.
Tottaly, eighty samples were collected which consist six species belonging six genera and four subfamily as follow: Melanips sp. from the subfamily Figitinae, Aspicera abbreviata Belizin, 1952 and Callaspidia aberrans Kieffer, 1901 from the subfamily Aspicerinae, Alloxysta brevis Thomson, 1862 from the subfamily Charipinae, Isocolus sp. and Saphronecrus irani from the subfamily Cynipinae. C. aberrans is recorded for the first time from Iran.

A checklist of Iranian Cryptinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) for all species recorded of Iran is given. The list is based on detailed studies of all available published data and some new collected samples. Until now 123 species in 42 genera belonging to 3 tribes of this subfamily have been known from Iran. Cryptinae is the most species-rich subfamilies of Ichneumonidae, and has a worldwide distribution. Two genera, Goryphus Holmgren, 1868 and Thaumatogelis Schwarz, 1995 were recorded for the first time for the Iranian fauna. Many parts of the country are still studied insufficiently or even not studied at all, so we suppose that the total species richness in Iran is essentially higher.

The Ichneumonidae fauna of Kerman province, Iran, was surveyed in April 2013 to June 2014. In total, 35 species belonging to 22 genera and eight subfamilies were collected and identified, of which Cryptus armator Fabricius, 1804; Enizemum schwarzi Diller, 1987 and Barichneumon gaullei Berthoumieu, 1903 are new records for thefauna of Iran. An updated list of Ichneumonid species for Kerman province is presented. These data can be useful for biological control programs.

A faunistic survey was conducted in Ardabil province (North-western Iran), during spring 2013 to study the ichneumonids (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) associated with grasslands in this area. Samplings were carried out by the sweeping net in natural grasslands, neighboring fields and orchards. A total of twelve ichneumonid species belonging to nine genera and five subfamilies were collected and identified. The species were identified as follow: Collyria coxator (Villers, 1789), Diadromus collaris (Gravenhorst, 1829), Diplazon laetatorius (Fabricius, 1781), Diplazon pectoratorius (Gravenhorst, 1829), Homotropus crassicornis (Thomson, 1890), Homotropus elegans (Gravenhorst, 1829), Homotropus signatus (Gravenhorst, 1829), Lysibia nana (Gravenhorst, 1829), Orthocentrus castellanus (Ceballos, 1963), Picrostigeus setiger (Brischke, 1871), Promethes sulcator (Gravenhorst, 1829) and Syrphophilus bizonarius (Gravenhorst, 1829). Homotropus crassicornis is newly recorded for the fauna of Iran. An identification key to the known species of the genus Homotropus Foerster, 1869 from Iran is presented.

A survey was performed to investigate the fauna of Ichneumonidae in Fars province during 2012 to 2013. Totally, 14 species belonging to 13 genera and six subfamilies were collected and identified including: Exetastes adpressorius (Thunberg, 1822) (Banchinae); Diadegma semiclausum (Hellén, 1949) (Campopleginae); Cryptus inculcator (Linnaeus, 1758); Dichrogaster saharator (Aubert, 1964) (Cryptinae); Diplazon laetatorius (Fabricius, 1781); Enizemum ornatum (Gravenhorst, 1829); Homotropus nigritarsus (Gravenhorst, 1829); Homotropus signatus (Gravenhorst, 1829) (Diplazontinae); Colpognathus celerator (Gravenhorst, 1807); Diadromus collaris (Gravenhorst, 1829); Ichneumon sarcitorius Linnaeus, 1758; Virgichneumon callicerus (Gravenhorst, 1820) (Ichneumoninae); Orthocentrus asper (Gravenhorst, 1829); Picrostigeus setiger (Brischke, 1871) (Orthocentrinae), of which Exetastes adpressorius and Picrostigeus setiger are newly recorded for the fauna of Iran. In addition the male of the latter species is recorded for the first time and described. All species except Dichrogaster saharator are new for Fars province.

A seldom collected parasitoid of the pine aphids, Praon bicolor Mackauer, 1959, was captured in Malaise traps, mounted near the pine forests of Alborz Province (north central of Iran). It is the first record of this species from Iran and from the central Asian area. A brief diagnosis according to the morphological characters is presented and the host range within the conifers aphid parasitoids is also discussed.

The present study provides information about the Cryptinae and Ichneumoninae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) species collected from Kerman province, during 2013. A total of 12 species belonging to 10 genera of these two subfamilies were collected and identified. They were Cryptus inculcator (Linnaeus, 1758); Dichrogaster longicaudata (Thomson, 1884); Dichrogaster saharator (Aubert, 1964) and Mesostenus albinotatus Gravenhorst, 1829 (subfamily Cryptinae); Anisobas cingulatellus Horstmann, 1997; Apaeleticus bellicosus Wesmeal, 1845; Barichneumon derogator (Wesmeal, 1845); Ctenichneumon devylderi (Holmgren, 1871); Ctenichneumon edictorius (Linnaeus, 1758); Diadromus collaris (Gravenhorst, 1829); Heterischnus filiformis (Gravenhorst, 1829) and Lysibia nana (Gravenhorst, 1829) (subfamily Ichneumoninae) of which the genus Apaeleticus Wesmael and three species including M. albinotatus, A. bellicosus and B. derogator are new records for the fauna of Iran. All species are new for the fauna of Kerman province.

Fauna of Ichneumonidae of Isfahan province was studied in 2012. Specimens were collected using sweep net and Malaise trap on various plants from different places in Isfahan. Totally, 18 species belong to 16 genera and 7 subfamilies were collected and identified as: Anomalon cruentatum (Geoffroy, 1785) (Anomaloninae); Exetastes syriacus Schmiedeknecht, 1910 (Banchinae); Diplazon laetatorius (Fabricius, 1781), Enizemum ornatum (Gravenhorst, 1829), Homotropus nigritarsus (Gravenhorst, 1829), Homotropus signatus (Gravenhorst, 1829), Promethes sulcator (Gravenhorst, 1829) and Syrphophilus bizonarius (Gravenhorst, 1829) (Diplazontinae); Anisobas cingulatellus Horstmann, 1997, Diadromus collaris (Gravenhorst, 1829), Heterischnus filiformis (Gravenhorst, 1829) and Spilothyrateles nuptatorius (Fabricius, 1793) (Ichneumoninae); Exochus castaniventris Brauns, 1896 (Metopiinae); Itoplectis alternans (Gravenhorst, 1829), Itoplectis tunetana (Schmiedeknecht, 1914), Pimpla spuria Gravenhorst, 1829 and Zaglyptus multicolor (Gravenhorst, 1829) (Pimplinae) and Aneuclis incidens (Thomson, 1889) (Tersilochinae). All species are new record for Isfahan province except for Exochus castaniventris and Heterischnus filiformis is newly recorded from Iran.

In order to study the fauna of ichneumonid wasps (Hym., Ichneumonidae), a survey was carried out during 2010-2013 in various localities in Khorasan Razavi province. Samples were collected using sweeping net by irregular patterns on the common field crops and in the orchards. 234 specimens, in total were collected and identified. They were consisting 26 species belong 25 genera of 12 subfamilies. Among them, 16 species are new for Khorasan fauna including Anomalon cruentatum (Geoffroy, 1785) and Barylypa propugnator (Geoffroy, 1785) (Anomaloninae); Exetastes syriacus Schmiedeknecht, 1910 and Lissonota pleuralis (Brischke, 1880) (Banchinae); Diadegma semiclausum (Hellén, 1949) and Sinophorus xanthostomus (Gravenhorst, 1829) (Campopleginae); Dichrogaster longicaudata (Thomson, 1884), Dichrogaster saharator (Aubert, 1964) and Trychosis legator (Thunberg, 1822) (Cryptinae); Enizemum ornatum (Gravenhorst, 1829), Homotropus signatus (Gravenhorst, 1829) and Promethes sulcator (Gravenhorst, 1829) (Diplazontinae); Diadromus collaris (Gravenhorst, 1829), Dicaelotus pumilus (Gravenhorst, 1829) and Ichneumon proletarius Wesmael, 1848 (Ichneumoninae); Orthocentrus strigatus Holmgren, 1858 (Orthocentrinae). Three species including Exetastes syriacus, Lissonota pleuralis and Dicaelotus pumilus are new records for the fauna of Iran.

Fauna of the Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) of Iran is reviewed and the data on their host aphid associations are summarized. Seventy-eight species belonging to 17 genera of Aphidiinae are listed in the associations with 193 aphid species. A total of 491 parasitoid-aphid associations are presented. The distribution of the Aphidiinae species in different parts of Iran and other countries is also discussed.