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

A survey was conducted to study the fauna of the subfamily Aphidiinae (Hym., Braconidae) in Hormozgan province (Southern Iran). Specimens were collected using Malaise traps and sweep nets from various habitats during 2013–2016. A total of fiftheen species belonging to seven genera, Aphidius Nees, 1819 (7 species); Diaeretiella Starý, 1960 (1); Ephedrus Haliday, 1833 (2); Binodoxys Mackauer 1960 (1); Lysiphlebus Förster, 1862 (1); Praon Haliday, 1833 (2) and Trioxys Haliday, 1833 (1) were identified. All species are newly recorded from Hormozgan province (and its island). A key to the known species in Hormozgan province is provided.

During the study of aphid fauna of North-Khorasan province, Iran, an aphid species, Brachycaudus cerasicola (Mordvilko, 1929) (Hem.: Aphididae), was collected on Salvia aethiopis, Stachys turcomanica, Hymenocrater elegans, Perovskia abrotanoides and Phlomis cancellata (Lamiaceae) in 2016 and 2017 which is reported here for the first time from Iran. The first to third host plants reported as the new hosts for this aphid. Since the original descriptions of this species by Mordvilko (1929) and Shaposhnikov (1964) are rether brief, so we report here additional notes and more detailed biometric data on this species. The biometric data of the Iranian populations of B. cerasicola is given and compared to the original descriptions.

We present the results of a survey on the sawfly fauna of Anguran Protected Area, Dandi, Mahneshan County, Zanjan Province, Iran. Surveys in 2018 with nets recorded 4 sawfly species in three genera: Macrophya diversipes (Schrank, 1782); Macrophya nr. ribis (Schrank, 1781); Tenthredo cinctipleuris (Enslin, 1910) and Dolerus murcius Konow, 1895. The last mentioned species is a new record for the Iranian fauna.

The current paper presents new data on the distribution of 51 species of crabronid wasp (Hymenoptera: Spheciformes: Crabronidae) from the subfamilies Crabroninae (42 species of 15 genera and 5 tribes) and Pemphredoninae (9 species of 6 genera and two tribes) collected at 21 sampling sites in the Fars Province of Iran. Three species, Tachysphex nitidus (Spinola, 1806), Liris memnonius (F. Smith, 1856), and Spilomena mocsaryi Kohl, 1898 are newly added to the Iranian insect fauna. General distribution and Iranian localities are given for each species. The biogeographic affinities of the collected species are also discussed.

The pteromalid genus Zolotarewskya Risbec (Pteromalidae: Cleonyminae) is reported from India after a gap of 45 years with the description of a new species and one new species of Cleonymus Latrielle are described from Southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India. Affinities of the new species with closely related species are discussed and a key to the oriental species of Cleonymus is also provided. Male of Dipara hayati Sureshan is also described for the first time.

The fauna of Cephidae (Hymenoptera: Symphyta: Cephoidea) is reported from Iran based on literature records and specimens collected. Totally, 15 species and subspecies of six genera, Calameuta Konow (three species), Cephus Latreille (five species), Phylloecus Newman (two species), Pachycephus Stein (two subspecies), Syrista Konow (one species) and Trachelus Jurine (two species), are listed. Phylloecus niger (Harris, 1776), Pachycephus smyrnensis smyrnensis Stein, 1876 and Trachelus libanensis (André, 1881) are recorded from Iran for the first time.

Present study was done in forests of northern Iran during 2016 to investigate Entomobryomorpha (Collembola) fauna. Seven genera and nine species belonging to families Tomoceridae and Entomobryidae were found. The genus Pogonognathellus Paclt, 1944 and species P. flavescens (Tullberg, 1871) belonging to Tomoceridae family are recorded for the first time from Iran, also three new records from Entomobryidae of genus Entomobrya Rondani, 1861 are reported for Mazandaran province fauna.