Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics
Volume:5 Issue: 4, Oct 2019

The genus Ratasa Herrich-Schäffer, 1849 and R. alienalis (Eversmann, 1844) are identified based on a single male specimen collected in Golestan National Park, Sulgerd region and preserved in the Hayk Mirzayans Insect Museum. Both genus and species are newly reported for the fauna of Iran. Taxonomic characterization of the species as well as the adult male and male genitalia figures are presented herein.

The paper presents a comprehensive compilation of 543 species and 24 subspecies of aphids, within 144 genera, belonging to 15 subfamilies, 3 families and three superfamilies of Aphidomorpha recorded to date from Iran. Among them, 35 species of aphids are endemic to Iran.

An overview of the Arachnida and their study in Iran is provided. Besides ancient poetry, relics (going back to 5,000 YBP), and early medical observations (at least 2,000 YBP), the first published taxonomical observations of arachnids from Iran were in 1807 about scorpions. The superorders Parasitiformes and Acariformes (mites and ticks) have received by far the most attention among all of the Arachnida thanks to their economic and medical/veterinary importance. Occurrences have been noted for over 1,733 species in four orders: Ixodida, Mesostigmata, Sarcoptiformes, and Trombidiformes. The first tick of the Ixodida was described in 1818. The first mite species described from Iran was of the Mesostigmata in 1982. The first member of the Sarcoptiformes named from Iran is uncertain, but the first Iranian species of the Suborder Oribatida was described in 1984 and was likely the first for the order. The first species described from Iran of the Order Trombidiformes were named in 1995. Studies on spiders started in 1874. Spiders are recorded by the occurrences of 764 species. Scorpions number 68 species in Iran and receive a lot of study and are better known compared to mites and spiders on a percentage basis, because scorpions have such a small diversity worldwide. The first Iranian species of Solifugae was described in 1895. The camel spiders are known from 67 species. Pseudoscorpions are recorded by 65 species. The Opiliones are known by 22 named species. The Amblypygi are recorded from Iran by one species described in 2018.

This study forms a review of the subfamily Tachininae in the northern slopes of the Alborz Mountains and northwestern Iran from 2010 to 2014. A total of 23 genera and 37 species belonging to 11 tribes of the subfamily Tachininae are reviewed. Among them, three genera and 11 species are new records to the fauna of Iran. The collected data of all species, together with their current general distribution and reported hosts are presented. Identification keys to the 23 genera and 37 species found in the studied regions are also provided.

In this study thirteen species of subfamily Eumeninae are recorded from the Sistan-o Baluchestan province (South East of Iran). Among the studied material, five species including Cyrtolabulus karachiensis Gusenleitner, 2006; Cyrtolabulus syriacus (Giordani Soika, 1968); Stenancistrocerus biblicus (Giordani Soika, 1952); Stenodynerus trotzinai (Morawitz, 1895) and Tachyancistrocerus quabosi Giordani Soika, 1979 are recorded for the first time from Iran. Stenancistrocerus biblicus also represents a new generic record for the faun of Iran.

In order to extend the work on Iranian Collembolan fauna, several samplings from leaf litter and soils conducted in Ilam province (west of Iran). Specimens were collected from different localities and extracted by Berlese funnels. Results from the study lead to identification of 11 species of five families: Onychiuridae (with two genera and two species), Tullbergiidae (with one genus and one species), Hypogastruridae (with one genus and one species), Isotomidae (with four genera and four species) and Entomobryidae (with one genus and one species). Sminthurus muscicolus Betsch, 1977 from Sminthuridae was new for Iranian fauna. All species from the present study reported for the first time from Ilam province. Short explanation of each collected species including the material studied, a distribution and a short description for the new record and some illustrations are given.