Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics
Volume:7 Issue: 3, Sep 2021

We report the discovery of the parasitic wasp, Anomalon cruentatm (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae, Anomaloninae) for Syria. It is the first record of A. cruentatm in Syria. It was collected in a greenhouse in Lattakia province. Its description, distribution and photographs are provided.

Sawflies (Hymenoptera, Symphyta) are one of the important pest groups on damask rose, Rosa damascena P. Mill. (Plantae: Rosaceae). This study has been carried out to identify and investigate species diversity of sawflies in Darab rain-fed damask rose plain, Fars province which with 5290 hectares is the largest organic, rain-fed damask rose plain in the world in 2019. Sampling was done using four Malaise traps which were installed in different areas of the plain, from spring to summer. Collecting pots were emptied at an interval of two weeks and sawfly individuals were then isolated, mounted, or pinned and finally identified. To predict species richness of sawflies, the rarefaction method was applied to abundance-based and sample-based data. Totally, 133 individuals were collected representing 5 species from two families, Argidae: a single species, Arge cingulata Jakowlew, 1891 and Tenthredinidae: four species, Allantus (Allantus) viennensis (Schrank, 1781), Cladius pectinicornis (Geoffroy, 1785), Macrophya diaphenia Benson, 1968 and Tenthredo marginella Fabricius, 1793. Allantus viennensis was dominant with 63.9% of collected individuals. Tenthredo marginella and M. diaphenia had the following abundance rankings of 26.3% and 8.27% collected individuals respectively. Two species, A. cingulata and C. pectinicornis, were the singletons. The adult flight period of the dominant species, A. viennensis, was registered in two distinct periods and the others in one. Rarefaction showed that more sampling will yield 6-8 sawfly species in this region. The differences between the sawfly community of Darab damask rose plain and other regions of Iran and the world were discussed.

Teleiopsis diffinis (Haworth) was identified based on a single male specimen collected in Khakak, Mazandaran Province, deposited in the Hayk Mirzayans Insect Museum, Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection. The genus Teleiopsis Sattler and T. diffinis are newly reported for the fauna of Iran. Taxonomic characterization of the species is provided and the examined adult male and its genitalia are illustrated.

The present study analyses the effects of multifunctional areas (MA) for three years (2013–2015) on an intensive multi-crop farm in Portugal. The implementation of MA resulted in a wide range of enhancements in the insect community, such as significant effects as a reservoir, allowing an increase of 102.47% in the number of species and 97.64% of individuals. MA play an important role in conservation strategies and help increase the population of rare and threatened arthropod species.

Specimens of springtails were collected from soil and leaf litter in the forests of Mazandaran province, north of Iran during 2016–2017. Three species were recorded in this country for the first time, Xenylla szeptyckii Skarżyński, Piwnik & Porco, 2018 (Hypogastruridae), Friesea espunaensis Arbea & Jordana, 1993 (Neanuridae) and Tomocerina minuta (Tullberg, 1877) (Tomoceridae). Detailed descriptions of these species are provided based on the materials collected from Mazandaran province, Iran.

Previous investigations related to tree-fungus beetle, Xylographus bostrichoides (Dufour) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea: Ciidae) have not studied beetlechr('39')s morphology in detail.  This beetle is associated with tree fungi and collected from Fomes sp (Polyporales: Fomitopsidaceae). Pregenital ring, and the almond-shaped plates of abdominal terminalia, are useful characters for the species identification. Also, frontoclypeal area, first abdominal sternite, and abdominal terminalia are the important characters for the female and male separation. The larvae and adult specimens of X. bostrichoides (Dufour, 1843) studied here were found feeding on the dried fruit body (basidiome) of Fomes sp., which had been stored for a long time as a mushroom stored product. The signs and symptoms of the beetle damage (feeding) on the mushroom are also described.

A survey was conducted on the fauna of Ichneumonini Latreille, 1802 (Ichneumonidae: Ichneumoninae) in North-central area of Iran. The specimens were collected using Malaise traps from March to November in 2010–2011. A total of 28 species were identified, of which three species and one subspecies are recorded for the first time from Iran: Eutanyacra ruficornis Berthoumieu, 1894; Ichneumon quadrialbatus Gravenhorst, 1820; Ichneumon sarcitorius turkestanicus Heinrich, 1929; Stenobarichneumon basalis Perkins, 1960. As well 17 species are new provincial records. A new species, Anisopygus persicus Shirzadegan, Talebi & Riedel sp. nov. from Guilan province in northern Iran is described and illustrated. The known number of Ichneumonini species in Iran is now raised to 143. Detailed morphological characters of the newly recorded species and Virgichneumon albilineatus (Gravenhorst, 1820), as well as an updated list of the tribe Ichneumonini from Iran, are provided.

The genus Agrochola s. l. Hübner, 1821 (Noctuidae, Xyleninae, Xylenini, Xylenina) include more than seventy described species, most of them have a quite typical external habitus. Due to recent revisions on this lineage in the Palaearctic, we decided to update the data of this group in Iran, according to the latest synonymy information and distribution data. A total of 18 taxa belonging to Agrochola s. l. of Iran was listed among them, three taxa namely Agrochola imitata Ronkay, 1984, A. consueta (Herrich-Schäffer, 1852) and A. helvola pallescens (Warren, 1911) are newly recorded for the fauna of Iran. A list of Agrochola s. l. taxa of Iran with their synonymy and distribution data is given together with some notes and illustrations of genitalia and wing pattern for the new records. It is suggested to do more intensive exploration and study the food plants of Iranian Agrochola in their habitats, especially in the Zagros range in western Iran.

On the basis of the sampling surveys in Biskra province during 2012 and 2019, fourteen distinct types of galls induced by insects were found on various host plants. They were belonging to three insect orders, four families and twelve genera. Most of the galls were induced by eight species of gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), recently recorded from Biskra province, of which two species Houardiella salicornia Kieffer, 1912 and Gephyraulus moricandiae Sylven & Solinas, 1989 are first recorded from Algeria. The only known gall-inducing psyllid species Rhodochlanis salsolae (Lethierry, 1874) from Biskra (Algeria) as well as three gall-inducing aphid species associated with Pistacia atlantica were detected for the first time in Biskra province. These phytophagous species are associated with ten host plant species of which, the family Chenopodiaceae have the highest number of gall insects. Majority of the gallers are of Mediterranean origin, considered as economically indifferent species.

Professor Ebrahim Behad, emeritus professor of Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Isfahan Center, and professor at Islamic Azad University, Khorasgan branch passed away at the age of 85 on March 2021. Despite administrative responsibilities, he is the author of several books which some are references mostly for undergraduate students. His key role in holding two rounds of the Iranian Plant Protection Congress is memorable. Also, he published some peer-reviewed scientific articles and a lot of extension booklets and was involved in teaching and supervision the postgraduate students, mainly at the Isfahan University of Technology.