مهدی اسفندیاری

Beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) is a polyphagous species and an economically important pest that primarily damages various crops, including sugar beet, cotton, corn, and vegetables in Iran. The beet armyworm is known for developing resistance to various insecticides, making management increasingly challenging. The beet armyworm poses a considerable threat to agriculture, requiring ongoing research and adaptive management strategies to mitigate its impact on crops such as sugar beet. In recent years, the damage of the mentioned moth has been observed and reported in the north of Khuzestan. Due to the wide host range of this pest, less attention has been paid to the resistance of cultivars to this pest in sugar beet breeding programs.

In order to evaluate the resistance of 12 sugar beet cultivars (Ratna, Callas, Algar, Bifort, Portal, Sentinel, Brandon, Motor, Homa, Dena, Sharif and 061) to sugar beet armyworm, experiments were carried out in laboratory and experimental fields located at Agriculture and Natural Resources Research and Education Center of Safiabad, Dezful, during 2021-2022. Calculating percentage of preference of beet armyworm larvae to different sugar beet cultivars in the laboratory, and determining damage index of beet armyworm to different cultivars in the field with natural infestation (choice access), with artificial infestation (no-choice access), and percentage of yield (Kg/m2) reduction of the pest in the experimental field conditions included in this study. Damage index of larvae was defined in five groups, namely very sensitive, sensitive, semi-resistant, resistant, and very resistant.

In the evaluations carried out in the field, significant difference was seen between the beet armyworm damage index of experimental cultivars by natural damage. In this experiment, the highest damage index was seen in Ratna cultivar and the lowest in Brandon, Callas, Sentinel, Algar and Homa cultivars. The yield reduction percentage was not significant at the 5% level. Damage compensation in low larval densities and production of new leaves was one of the reasons for the non-significance of yield reduction due to larvae feeding. In laboratory evaluations, the preference percentage of beet armyworm larvae was significant for different sugar beet cultivars. The highest percentage of larvae prevalence was seen in Kalas, Portal, Brandon and Ratna cultivars and the lowest in Dena cultivar. Sentinel, Bifort and Homa cultivars also attracted less larvae after Dena. No significant difference was seen between sugar beet cultivars in terms of decreasing or increasing the survival period of the larvae, but the index of larval feeding on the leaves of the cultivars was significant in the second laboratory tests. The lowest amount of larval feeding was seen in Motor, Dena and Sharif cultivars and the highest amount was seen in 061 and Homa cultivars. The resistance indices/coefficients were calculated based on total evaluations, and according to that, Motor, Kalas and Sentinel cultivars are in the resistant group, Dena and Sharif cultivars are in the semi-resistant group, Algar, Bifort, Portal, Ratna and 061 cultivars are in the semi-resistant group. Brandon and Homa cultivars were grouped in the sensitive group. The calculated resistance index had a significant negative correlation with the damage index of beet armyworms in the field (no-choice test), the percentage of yield reduction by larvae, larval survival period, and the amount of larval feeding on leaves in the laboratory.

The results obtained indicated that, although the sugar beet armyworm is a pest with a very broad host range, the feeding rates and survival percentages of its larvae vary across different sugar beet cultivars. These variations can be utilized to enhance and develop resistant varieties of sugar beet. In further studies, the Sentinel, Motor, and Kalas cultivars, which showed relative resistance in the experiments, along with the Brandon and Homa cultivars, identified as sensitive, can serve as control groups. Additional studies related to the mechanisms of resistance and morphological and biochemical aspects which are effective in the resistance of sugar beet cultivars to the beet armyworm are recommended for use in breeding programs. The use of sugar beet cultivars resistant to the beet armyworm can be effective in reducing the use of pesticides against this pest, managing the resistance of the beet armyworm to pesticides and the integrated management of this pest.

Ducrosia anethifolia (commonly known as ‘Moshgak’) is a medicinal plant belonging to the family Apiaceae. It is distributed in the southern regions of Iran, particularly in Fars province. This plant is traditionally used for both culinary and medicinal purposes. Its essential oil has shown significant insecticidal activity against certain date palm pests. Additionally, it possesses antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and memory-enhancing properties. To date, no reports have documented insect pest activity or damage on this plant. However, during a study in the southern regions of Fars province, extensive larval activity of an insect species was observed on D. anethifolia. This report aims to identify the insect species and examine its biological characteristics.

Field studies were conducted in March and April 2021, and continued in the following years, in the natural habitats of D. anethifolia in the Khor region (335 km southeast of Shiraz, Fars province). Larvae were observed feeding extensively on the young leaves, stem tips, and flower buds of the plant. These larvae were collected at different developmental stages and reared in the laboratory until they reached adulthood. The adult insects were then identified.

The adult insect was identified as Papilio machaon Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae). The larvae belonged to the first generation, which became active in Larestan from March onwards. No signs of a second generation were observed during the region’s hot summer. In spring, when the first generation was active, 30–40% of the plants were infested, particularly in the early morning or evening. It is important to note that this plant is naturally distributed in a sparse pattern. The insect was consistently observed on D. anethifolia over multiple years. In certain remote areas where perennial plants with thick roots were present, larval infestations were more frequent. Papilio machaon is widely distributed across North America, Europe, North Africa, and most of Asia. In Iran, it has been reported from nearly all regions, including Fars province (Shiraz and Kazerun). This butterfly can be found from sea level to altitudes above 3,600 meters. Its host plants belong to the families Apiaceae and Rutaceae. The larvae employ camouflage as a defense mechanism: young larvae resemble bird droppings, while older larvae exhibit coloration similar to their host plants. Some subspecies of P. machaon are unpalatable to birds, serving as an additional defensive strategy. The adults feed on nectar. Certain wasp species have been reported as parasitoids of this butterfly, suggesting that future studies should investigate the presence of natural enemies in the region.

The D. anethifolia population in Larestan, Fars province, faces threats due to overharvesting and climate change. Local communities harvest this plant during its vegetative growth phase, preventing many individuals from reaching the flowering stage. In nature, the plant primarily propagates through seeds. Given that P. machaon larvae feed on the immature and unopened flower buds, this insect may negatively impact the reproductive success of D. anethifolia by reducing seed production, ultimately threatening the plant’s natural regeneration and survival.

The melon aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is one of the important ornamental plant pests in urban regions. In this study, the microemulsion system was developed using cypermethrin insecticide as the active ingredient, xylene as the solvent, and surfactants including Tensiofix 8427 + SDS, and Tensiofix 8427 + SLS, and 1-butanol (cosurfactant), as stabilizer. The optimal microemulsion formulation was determined using a pseudo-ternary phase diagram using the water titration method. The microemulsions mean droplet sizes were in the range 11.2–22.8 nm. The droplets of all three formulations were spherical and uniformly dispersed in water. The mortality percentage was 66.66, 56.66, and 55.00% 24 h after aphids exposure to C1-250 (cypermethrin: Tensiofix 8427 + SDS + 1-butanol: water, at the ratio of 10:20:70), C2-250 (cypermethrin: Tensiofix 8427 + SLS + 1-butanol: water, at the ratio of 10:20:70), and C3-250 (cypermethrin: Tensiofix 8427 + SLS + 1-butanol: water, at the ratio of 15:30:55), which increased to 92.86, 89.29, and 83.94%, 48 h after exposure, respectively. The results revealed that the microemulsion formulation containing cypermethrin 250 g/L was more effective in controlling A. gossypii than cypermethrin technical material and 150 g/L cypermethrin-based microemulsion.

The larvae of certain species in the Noctuidae family cause significant economic damage annually. Due to the importance of this group, specimens of the subfamily Noctuinae, specifically from the tribe Leucaniini, collected from the Fars, Ilam, Kerman and Khuzestan provinces were studied. As a result, among the nine identified and studied species from the genera Mythimna and Leucania, four species from Khuzestan province, three species from Ilam province and one species from Fars province were registered as new provincial records. Additionally, the distribution of Leucania (Leucania) herrichii Herrich-Schäffer, 1849 was confirmed for the first time in Iran. Further studies on this tribe in different parts of Iran are recommended.

Possessing product technologies is an inevitable necessity for a catch-up. Latecomers must strengthen their design capabilities to enter the innovation stage. A part of the design capabilities is created by developing and applying product technologies. Despite this necessity, most methods and tools for formulating technology strategy focus on process technologies (embedded in the company's value chain) and ignore product technologies. A precise conceptualization of the relationship between the product technologies and the design capabilities is also required. In this article, while separating product and process technologies, the relationship between design capabilities and product technologies is explained. Also, using the "design thinking" approach, a method for formulating a technology strategy is presented, in which both product and process technologies are considered. The implementation of the proposed method is shown with a practical example of 230-320 MW generators. Using the focus group, the validity of the method has been evaluated. The applicability of the method has been shown by implementing it in 21 subsidiaries of the Mapna group. The theoretical contribution and practical application of the research are discussed and further research is suggested.

This paper is a part of a long-term study on the Noctuidae fauna of Kerman province. Here we report the newly identified species, which were collected mostly in the South of this province during the years 2015 and 2016. Totally, here we report 30 Noctuidae taxa from 13 genera and six subfamilies namely: Acronictinae (five taxa), Amphipyrinae (three taxa), Heliothinae (two taxa), Condicinae (two taxa), Bryophilinae (six taxa) and Noctuinae (12 taxa). Among these reports there are 12 new provincial records from Kerman. Amphipyra kitti Gaal-Haszler, Lödl, Ronkay, Ronkay & Varga, is recorded here as a new species for the fauna of Iran. Material examined is listed together with provincial distribution for each taxon. Wing pattern and male and female genitalia structures of A. kitti illustrated here. The female genitalia of this species describe here for the first time. According to this data, we concluded that despite the vast area of Kerman province, its fauna has been less explored compared to some of its neighboring provinces. We suggest to explore especially higher altitudes of this province.

Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot has attracted substantial attention as a biological control agent. The life history traits, and functional and numerical responses of A. swirskii fed on Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) was studied under laboratory conditions (25±1°C, 60±5% RH and 16 L: 8D). Predatory mite was able to feed and complete its development on both B. tabaci eggs and 1st instar nymphs. Total preadult developmental period of female A. swirskii fed on eggs and 1st instar nymphs of B. tabaci were 5.62 and 5.12 days, respectively. Sex ratio (female percentage) of A. swirskii feeding on above diets were 70 and 72 %, respectively. Female longevity of A. swirskii fed on above mentioned diets were 25.27 and 26.97 days, respectively, and total fecundity were 47.20 and 41.70 eggs, respectively. Intrinsic rate of increase (rm) of A. swirskii fed on above mentioned diets were 0.2040 and 0.1863 day-1, respectively. A type II functional response for feeding A. swirski on different densities (5, 10, 20, 30, 45, and 60) of B. tabaci eggs was determined. The highest mean number of preys fed by a single female A. swirskii were 38.50 and 34.70 eggs which were recorded at densities of 60 and 45 preys, respectively, with no significant difference. Searching efficiency (a) and handling times (Th) of the female mites were estimated as 0.1056 h-1 and 0.3534 h, according to nonlinear least-square regression. The maximum theoretical predations (T/Th) for female mites was 67.91 eggs/day. The reproductive numerical response, in terms of eggs laid, showed no significant difference with increasing prey density. There was also no significant difference between longevity of female mite in different densities of B. tabaci eggs. Overall, the results of the present study indicated that A. swirskii has a good potential to control B. tabaci. Therefore, further glasshouse and field research is warranted.

A microemulsion is a stable, homogeneous pesticide formulation, based on an aqueous solvent, which is considered a suitable alternative to emulsion formulations. In this study, microemulsion formulations of cypermethrin insecticide were designed to control Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae), one of the important pests of many crops and ornamental plants.  Xylene was selected as a suitable solvent based on the higher solubility of cypermethrin. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were constructed by the water titration method. The microemulsion system using mixtures composed of cypermethrin, Kenon 10+SDS surfactants, and 1-butanol cosurfactant had the highest microemulsion surface, and the ratio of 50:30:20 was chosen for further experiments. The physical and chemical properties of the obtained microemulsions were also evaluated. Microemulsion formulations were synthesized with 150 and 250 g/L a.i. (active ingredient) of the cypermethrin. The appearance of the microemulsion compounds was transparent and the droplet size of all samples was less than 35 nm. Foliar spraying of compounds including cypermethrin technical material (150 g a.i./L), cypermethrin technical material (250 g a.i./L), cypermethrin microemulsion (150 g a.i./L), and cypermethrin microemulsion (250 g/L a.i.), under greenspace conditions on Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. (Malvaceae) caused 25.05, 37.54, 60.74, and 83.94% mortality on third instar nymphs 48 hours after treatment, respectively. Therefore, microemulsion formulations had significantly more insecticidal activity against A. gossypii compared to the technical material. In this study, an environment-friendly microemulsion system was designed to improve the efficacy of cypermethrin for controlling populations of A. gossypii. However, further research could be performed to assess the behavior and ultimate fate in the environment prior to commercialization.

Noctuidae species are herbivores as caterpillars and some of them are most destructive crop pests. Moreover, they role as pollinators and prey in ecosystem. Early researches on Noctuidae of Iran were published more than 150 years ago. In recent two decades, Iranian researchers investigated the Noctuidae fauna of Iran and published several articles on different subfamilies. The subfamily Xyleninae may be paraphyletic and defined by plesiomorphic character states. Xyleninae in classic taxonomy is defined by the valva of male genitalia which is not as much constricted below the cucullus at the distal end of the clasper. The cuculus usually is expanded and bears a corona of stout setae. The ampulla is small and usually finger-like, except in Xylenina. Dorsal surface of saculus is usually irregular in direction to the base. Vesica is often short and tube-like or triangular with few basal cornuti and an elongated patch of spines on the apical half of the vesica. In female genitalia, the ductus bursae is short and heavily sclerotized; and the appendix bursae is small and inconspicuous or absent. It is worth mentioning that Lepidoptera species are one of the important elements of Zagros mountain ranges which dominated by oak forests. Their larvae are important leaf-eaters of oak plants. Therefore, the aim of this research was determining the moths’ fauna of Xyleninae subfamily belonging to Noctuidae in Zagros Mountains of Khuzestan and Ilam provinces. 

Numerous night samplings were done to study the fauna of Xyleninae subfamily (Lep.: Noctuidae) in Zagros Mountains in the provinces of Khuzestan and Ilam during 2018-2019. Sampling was performed by light traps powered by 12 volt batteries and 8 watt UVB light tubes. Sampling areas were two locations in Khuzestan province namely Imamzadeh Abdollah village in Baghmalek (31°22'24"N, 50°07'51"E, 1540 m and 31°23'10"N, 50°09'29"E, 2360 m) and Shelal village in Andika (32°16'19"N, 49°33'07"E, 1700 m and 32°19'10"N, 49°35'06"E, 1465 m) as well as two locations in Ilam province namely Kabir-Kouh in Abdanan (33°02'57"N, 47°18'04"E, 1215 m and 33°03'53"N, 47°18'40"E, 1730 m) and Protected Area of Manesht and Ghelarang (33°34'47"N, 46°33'52"E, 1455 m and 33°34'33"N, 46°36'15"E, 2215 m). The specimens and genitalia slides were deposited in the Insect and Mite Collection of Ahvaz (IMCA), Plant Protection Department, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz.

 A total of 28 species belonging to 19 genera of Xyleninae were collected and identified. Among them, 9 and 15 species were new to the fauna of Khuzestan and Ilam provinces, respectively. Furthermore, Dichonia pinkeri (Kobes, 1973) is newly recorded from the fauna of Iran. Notes on the bionomy and distribution of the collected species as well as diagnostic characters and illustrations of wing patterns and genitalia for the D. pinkeri were presented. According to the results, 9 species have not been recorded in the previous investigations in Khuzestan province. These species are as follows; Caradrina boursini, Hoplodrina ambigua, Polyphaenis monophaenis, Apamea syriaca fuscorhoda, Sesamia sp., Atethmia centrago, Evisa schawerdae, Leucochlaena muscosa, Pseudenargia deleta. 15 out of 17 collected species in Ilam were new for the fauna of this province. Because this province was less explored previously for Noctuidae fauna. This indicates that we are still far from a complete provincial list of the Noctuidae in Iran. It needs more samplings especially in area and times which less explored already and using different methods such as bait traps. We didn’t present the results on Agrochola species here and will treat them separately. 13 species were collected in both studied provinces, among which two species Hoplodrina ambigua and Polyphaenis monophaenis were new for the fauna of Khuzestan and Ilam. This implies that habitat of such species are Zagros areas including oak forest vegetations and their distribution range may be further expanded in Zagros range. Comparing to the results of Esfandiari et al. (2011) on the noctuid fauna of sugarcane plantations in Khuzestan province, only Spodoptera exigua and Caradrina clavipalpis out of their 9 Xyleninae species were recorded in the present study. This is because of semidesert climate in sugarcane farms which differs from climate and land cover of our sampling areas. It is necessary to investigate the noctuid fauna, complete the checklists and provide identification catalogues for Iran. Also, larval stages and food plants must be studied in each area. Furthermore, we need local taxonomic revisions in some groups.

In this paper, Amphipyra kautti Hacker, 2002 which was collected from Zagros Mountain ranges is newly reported for the fauna of Iran. Another species from Amphipyrinae which was collected during our survey is also presented.Sampling was carried out by light traps powered by 12-volt batteries and 8-watt UVB light tubes. Materials were deposited in the Insect and Mite Collection of Ahvaz, Plant Protection Department, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz. Genitalia slides were prepared following Fibiger (1997). Identifications were done according to available literature such as Hacker (1998), Fibiger & Hacker (2007) and by studying museum materials at Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest by the first author. Systematics and nomenclature are according to Fibiger & Hacker (2007), with later modifications by Keegan et. al. (2019; 2021). Adults were photographed by Canon EOS 600D and genitalia with a Canon SX40 attached to an Olympus SZX12 stereomicroscope.  Noctuidae Latreille, 1809Subfamily Amphipyrinae Guenée, 1837Tribe Amphipyrini Guenée, 1837Amphipyra kautti Hacker, 2002

Aenasius bambawalei Hayat (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Encyrtidae) is a solitary endoparasitoid of Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley. It was first found in Iran in 2011 following the introduction of its host, P. solenopsis, in the country in 2009. In order to confirm the identification of A. bambawalei which was based on classic taxonomy, the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene was sequenced in A. bambawalei samples collected from southern Iran. The parasitoids were retrieved from the specimens collected from four provinces of Iran, namely Khuzestan, Bushehr, Hormozgan and Fars. The polymerase chain reaction was performed according to standard protocols on the extracted DNA to amplify a fragment of the COI gene. Obtained 633 bp COI sequences were aligned with five A. bambawalei COI sequences available in GenBank from China and Pakistan and two other sequences as outgroups. In addition, a dendrogram was prepared and graphically depicted in a neighbor-joining tree. Our identifications were confirmed by the matches between our sequences and those of the GenBank database. Sequences displayed a BLAST hit and had a sequence similarity percentage of 99%-100% with the GenBank sequence assigned to the same species. The results of COI sequence analysis were in agreement with the morphological identifications. The findings of this study pointed out that COI gene sequence data is a precise and accurate tool for the rapid identification of A. bambawalei species.

Macrochelidae are cosmopolitan free-living predators that inhabit habitats rich in decaying organic matter, such as manure. They feed primarily on small arthropods and nematodes. Macrochelidae predators are considered beneficial mites that have been identified as promising biological control agents for fly eggs and larvae, and other harmful organisms. Adult Macrocheles muscaedomesticae (Scopoli) prefers house fly Musca domestica L. eggs to first instar larvae. This predator has been observed to reduce fly populations in natural conditions significantly, and the reduction was considerably greater when the predator was augmented. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of mutual interference on M. muscaedomesticae predation on house fly eggs at 27 ± 1°C and 33 ± 1°C.

In this study, we investigated the mutual interference of adult female predators M. muscaedomesticae on house fly eggs in an incubator at two constant temperatures of 27 ± 1°C and 33 ± 1°C, 65 ± 5% RH, 14:10 h (L: D) photoperiod. To this end, the per capita searching efficiency and per capita predation of 1, 2, 4, and 8 female mite M. muscaedomesticae were determined, and 100 house fly eggs were offered to 4-day-mated adult female mites in each predator density for 6 h. Before the experiments, female predators were fed and mated for 48 h and then starved for 24 h to obtain a cohort of M. muscaedomesticae.

A significant relationship was discovered between the logarithm of predator density and M. muscaedomesticae per capita searching efficiency. This dramatically decreased per capita predation rate and per capita searching efficiency as predator density increased at both temperatures. At 27 °C, once predator densities were increased from 1 to 8, per capita predation decreased from 16.70 to 4.69, and per capita searching efficiency decreased from 0.183 to 0.058. At 33 °C, when predator densities were increased from 1 to 8, per capita predation decreased from 9.20 to 4.81, and per capita searching efficiency decreased from 0.097 to 0.061.  

The negative slope of the regression line or interference coefficient of -0.6774 and -0.2448 at 27 and 33 °C, respectively, indicated that interference is a density-dependent factor and that per capita searching efficiency exhibits negative density-dependency. As a result, different predator densities may affect M. muscaedomesticae's efficacy. The findings could be applied to the mass rearing techniques of this predator mite in an insectarium.

SummaryPathogenic and non-pathogenic fungi growing on insect’s body cansignificantly affect their biology and population. To identify insect-associated fungi, the life stages of the insects, including larva, pupa and adults (alive or dead and helthy), were collected from different habitats in Golestan and Khuzestan Provinces during 2017-2018 and their associated fungi were isolated after surface-sterilization. In this study, 13 various isolates were selected (based on primary morphology) and identified according to morphological and molecular analysis. For molecular identification, the sequences of ITS-nrDNA, tef1a, tub2 and gapdh were obtained, where required for identification. Accordingly, eleven species were identified as follow: Auxarthron kuehnii, Biscogniauxia sp., Cladosporium halotolerans, Curvularia mosaddeghii, Fusarium brachygibbosum, Lasiodiplodia mediterranea, Metarhizium brunneum, Nigrospora gorlenkoana, N. oryzae, N. osmanthi, Petriella guttulata and Phascolomyces articulosus. This study firstly reports the genera of Auxarthron (A. kuehnii) and Phascolomyces (P. articulosus) and the species of L. mediterranea, N. gorlenkoana and N. osmanthi for the mycobiota of Iran.

Pelopidas thrax (Hübner) (Lep.: Hesperiidae) is a widespread species in southwest Iran. We aimed to use geometric morphometric techniques to investigate the sexual dimorphism and allometric effects associated with the wings of P. thrax. Fore- and hind wings of 40 and 39 individuals, respectively, of each sex which were collected from Ahvaz city were digitized and analyzed.  Sexual dimorphism was observed in size and shape of fore- and hind wings of P. thrax and was graphically illustrated. Multivariate statistics confirmed significant differences in shape of fore- and hind wing between sexes. Centroid size of both wings showed greater values in females than males and visualized by boxplots. Various multivariate regressions of shape coordinates on centroid size were significant and visualized by the thin plate splines. Allometry explained shape variance in each case between 0.8% to 19.6%. The analysis demonstrated different allometric patterns for sexes in both fore- and hind wings. Significant shape differences between wings of males and females were still remained after removing allometric effects. The variation that is not related to size could be attributed to specific behaviors such as flight speed and performance in each sex. However, specific experiments are needed to confirm the association of the wing shape variation expressed in this study with the flight traits.

The strawberry spider mite, Tetranychus turkestani Ugarov and Nikolski, is an important pest of various field and glasshouse crops in Iran. This study aimed to determine the functional response of adult females of Stethorus gilvifrons Mulsant to different densities of T. turkestani on three fabaceous host plant species: cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.), white bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.), and red bean (Phaseolus calcaratus Roxb.) at 30±2 °C, 60±10 % RH, and a photoperiod of 16L: 8D. Beetles were starved for 24 h before testing and then isolated singly for 24 h in 9-cm Petri dishes with 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, or 96 adult females of T. turkestani. Logistic regression analysis revealed a type III response on cowpeas. Constant (b) and handling time were 0.00718 and 0.3299 h, respectively. In contrast, a type II response was observed in white beans and red beans. The maximum attack (0.1219 h-1) and the minimum handling time (0.2301 h) were recorded on white beans and red beans, respectively. The maximum attack rates (T/Th) were 72.74, 60.42, and 104.30 eggs/day on cowpeas, white beans, and red beans, respectively. This laboratory study suggests that the plant features affect the capability of S. gilvifrons to respond to changes in a high T. turkestani density.

Macrocheles muscaedomesticae (Scopoli) is the most common mite found in cow and poultry manure worldwide. It feeds on manure-dwelling flies and spreads via flies. According to studies conducted in Khuzestan, Iran, and other countries, this is the dominant predator mite of immature the house flies, Musca domestica L. in domestic animal manures.  Control strategies for dipterous pest species continue to rely heavily on insecticides, even though these species have developed resistance to most insecticides currently available due to their widespread use. Increased public and farmer awareness have prompted scientists to investigate alternative methods for managing these filth flies. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of two temperatures on M. muscaedomesticae'sfunctional response to varying egg densities of M. domestica.

In this study, the functional response of female predator mite M. muscaedomesticae was examined on the house fly eggs in an incubator at two constant temperatures of 27 ± 1°C and 33 ± 1°C, 65 ± 5% RH, 14:10 h (L: D). Densities of 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 25, 30, 40, and 80 house fly eggs were offered to mated adult female mites. Before the experiments, female predators were fed and mated for 48 hours and then starved for 24 hours. Each treatment was replicated ten times. After 24 hours of exposure, the number of preys killed by each predator was recorded.

By logistic regression, the functional response of M. muscaedomesticae to varying densities of the house fly eggs was classified as type III in 27°C and type II in 33°C. Rogers' equation was used to calculate the functional response parameters. At 27°C, the attack coefficient and handling time were 0.0204 h-1 and 0.6497 h, respectively, and 0.6493 h-1 and 0.4769 h at 33°C. At 33°C, the maximum attack rate (T/Th) was 50.32 eggs/day and 36.94 eggs/day at 27°C. R2 values for M. muscaedomesticae at two constant temperatures were estimated to be 0.935 and 0.996 at 27°C and 33°C, respectively. Only at 40 and 80 prey densities did the analysis of variance reveal a significant difference in adult females' daily prey consumption between two constant temperatures. Additionally, there were significant differences between all densities at 33°C and the majority of densities at 27°C.

The temperature affected the type of functional response, the handling time, and the maximum attack rate. The findings of this study may contribute to a better understanding of the mite M. muscae

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.

Background and Objectives The melon or cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is hazardous to many agricultural crops. Melon aphid is a highly polyphagous pest, feeding on more than 320 plant species including cucumber. Melon aphids physically damage plants by directly sucking their phloem sap, resulting in premature leaf drop, wilting, and desiccation of host plants. Application of insecticides is usually considered as the most common method to control this pest. As a result of the widespread use of these chemical compounds, this pest has become resistant against several classes of synthetic insecticides. Therefore, in this study, sub-lethal concentrations of pirimicarb, and a parasitoid wasp, Lysiphlebus fabarum (Marshall) (Braconidae: Aphidiinae) were simultaneously used to control melon aphid on cucumber, as part of a comprehensive study for the integrated pest management. Materials and Methods In this research, first, bioassay of pirimicarb was performed with third instar of A. gossypii to calculate lethal concentrations of pirimicarb and then, another experiment was conducted to determine stability of pirimicarb, and also its effects on survival of a parasitoid wasp adult, L. fabarum. In the following, the effects of simultaneous releasing of L. fabarum with applying sub-lethal concentration (LC50) of pirimicarb on cucumber were investigated by determining population dynamics A. gossypii, every 5 days. In the first treatment, as a control treatment; the plants were sprayed with the recommended field concentration, at the beginning of the experiment, without releasing of the parasitoid wasp. In the second and third treatments, 40 male and female parasitoid wasps were released every 3 days on each plant. In the fourth and fifth treatments, 60 male and female parasitoid wasps were released. In all the last four treatments, at the beginning of the experiment, and in the third and fifth treatments on the 15th day, the plants were sprayed with LC50 of pirimicarb. After 30 days, the experiment was ended and the total number of alive aphids and total number of the mummified aphids were counted on each plant.   Results Mean lethal concentration (LC50) of pirimicarb was equal to 212.6 µg/L for the third nymphal instar and due to low stability of this concentration of pirimicarb; it was possible to release the wasps 3 days after spraying. The results of releasing different densities of wasp showed that higher density of wasps (60 wasps per release) did not have a highly significant effect, and low density of wasps (40 wasps) was able to control aphids. After a significant reduction in aphid population due to pesticide use, the parasitoid wasp was able to prevent growth of aphid population, but if necessary, spraying can be repeated by sub-lethal concentration (LC50)of the pirimicarb, after 15 days. Discussion Findings of the present study suggested that lethal concentration (LC50) of pirimicarb can be applied as a suitable insecticide, simultaneously with L. fabarum, for the integrated pest management of melon aphids.

Camelina is an annual oilseed plant of the Brassicaceae. Resistance to some diseases and pests of other members of Brassicaceae plants is one of the important features of Camelina. In the experimental sowing of this plant in Ahvaz in the cropping year 2018-2019, while the seeds were still immature, silicles shattering was observed in some camelina plants in experimental plots. After careful observation, it was discovered that some ants were cutting off the plant silicles and transferring them to their nests. Damages by these ants to Camelina plants were not limited to availibility of plants on the farm. These damages were also observed at the time of harvesting and counting of yield components. The ant was identified as Messor ebeninus Santschi, 1927 (Myrmicinae: Formicidae). This species has previously been reported from northern and southwestern of Iran. Collected specimens are preserved in the insects and mites collection, at the Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz. This is the first report of insects damage to Camelina in Iran.

Ants are the most ubiquitous insects on the earth with more than 12000 species which are classified into 21 subfamilies. Until now, more than 170 ant species have recorded in Iran. Mutualistic relationship between ants and scale insects have been reported in Iran. Such relationships between ants and insects are known as trophobiosis which is due to attraction of ants to honeydew of scale insects. Honeydew is a sugar-rich sticky liquid, secreted by aphids and some scale insects as they feed on plant sap. Ants provide protection from predators and parasitoids by building shelters around scale insect colonies. Such a relationship is mostly facultative and only a few taxa of mostly tropical or subtropical scale insects have obligate mutualism with ants. The coccoids with obligate mutualism display obvious behavioral and morphological adaptations for living with ants. Ants are also able to establish antagonistic interaction with honeydew-producing hemipterans and contribute positively to biological control by the suppression of pests.

In a study during 2013-2014, colonies of the mealybug Paracoccus ficus Moghaddam, 2014 were investigated for mutualistic ants feeding on honeydew of the mealybug in fig orchards of Neyriz, Estahban and Shiraz cities of Fars province, South Iran. Samples were collected by hand, forceps and soft brush. The specimens were preserved in 75% alcohol in small glass vials and were transferred to the laboratory. The morphological keys were used for identification. Specimens were deposited in Insect and Mite Collection of Ahvaz, at Department of Plant Protection, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz.

Totally, 6 species belonging to 3 subfamilies of ants were identified as follows:Myrmicinae: Monomorium abeillei Andre, 1881; Tetramorium sp.; Pheidole pallidula Nylander, 1849; Crematogaster antaris Forel, 1894; Formicinae: Cataglyphis lividus Andre, 1881; Dolichoderinae: Tapinoma simrothi Krausse, 1911.
Among collected species, T. simrothi and P. pallidula were more frequent. T. simrothi has also recorded as most frequent mutualistic ants with aphids in Central Iran. Natural enemies exploit hemipterans which receive ant protection for their benefit. For example, some parasitoid wasps soliciting honeydew directly from aphids by antennation and mimicking ants during foraging in host patches. Researchers believe that preventing ants from colonies of Pseudococcidae scale insects is necessary for success in biological control of such pests. However, not all of ants have negative effects in biological control of pests. Predatory ants are less attracted to the honeydew and mostly feed on egg, larvae and adult insects. Moreover, some ants are important in pollination, soil improvement, and nutrient cycling.  

Behavioral and ecological should be carried on ants in pest management programs, and only if they have a negative influence on biological control of scale insects, then perform control measures for ants.

Due to economic importance production of fish farms, in this research, the producers of cold water fish rainbow trout farms in the province in 2017 was evaluated using Super efficiency comprehensive analysis. In this regard, the information required to complete the questionnaire and paddy yield method based on a comprehensive analysis of the results obtained were compared with Super efficiency comprehensive analysis. In general, the results showed that the average level of technical efficiency in the model with constant returns to scale assumption (CCR) equivalent 81.70% with a standard deviation of 0/258 in the range between 0.23 to 0.1 and only 3.23% on fish farms are efficient, but not much inefficiency in other units. The mean level of technical efficiency of variable returns to scale model (BCC), equivalent 15.92% SD 0.126 in the range between 0.55 to 0.1, and 60% were fully functional. The results indicate that the average efficiency of the scale is 85.31% and its range ranges from 0.36 to 0.1. As well as apparent differences in technical efficiency levels between the study areas are the most important cause of technical inefficiency in aquaculture has different way of managing. With regard to the results obtained with optimal management of inputs, the level of performance can be significantly increased.

Light, as an environmental factor, affects the biology, physiology and behavior of insects. In this study, the feeding behavior of Hippodamia variegata and parasitism rate of Lysiphlebus fabarum were studied under light and dark conditions. Synchronous cohorts of different growth stages of H. variegata and female parasitoid wasps were produced and then they were singly introduced into experimental arena containing third instar nymphs of Aphis gossypii (20 nymphs for second instar larvae and female wasp; 30 nymphs for other growth stages of ladybird beetle) on a cucumber leaf. The results revealed that, although light did not influence foraging behavior of second instar larvae of the ladybird beetle, the number of killed aphids was significantly higher for fourth instar larvae by female and male adults of H. variegata during foraging in the light condition in comparison with the dark condition. The ratio of partial prey consumption (No. of partially consumed aphids to No. of aphids killed) was significantly greater in fourth instar larvae than in second instar larvae in the dark condition. Female adults displayed significantly more partial consumption of prey in the dark relative to the light condition. Moreover, in both light and dark phases, this ratio was higher in female adults than in males. The results revealed that female wasps parasitized fewer A. gossypii nymphs in the dark than in the light. Based on the acceptable performance of H. variegata in the dark condition, it can be said that in addition to the benefits of simultaneous application of the parasitoid wasp and the ladybird beetle during the day, aphid population decline continues at night.

 The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii, is an important pest on greenhouse crops such as the cucumber. Natural enemies have often been used successfully to control greenhouse pests. Among different pests, aphids because of their high reproductive rate are particularly difficult to control biologically.  In this study, the effects of separate and simultaneous application of the parasitoid wasp Lysiphlebus fabarum and the predator ladybird beetle Hippodamia variegata were studied to control A. gossypii on cucumber as an integrated pest management program. The replicates (n= 10) in all treatments included 10 cucumber plants in separate pots and were infected with five winged A. gossypii placed in a cage with a banker plant system of Vicia fabae-Aphis fabae. With the introduction of mummified aphids on a bean shoot (every two days), a pair of male and female adult ladybird beetles (every three days) or simultaneous application of both biocontrol agents, the numbers of aphids were counted in the three treatments. The results revealed that the parasitoid wasp L. fabarum alone was unable to control A. gossypii, but H. variegata performed better. The best performance was observed for simultaneous application of both biocontrol agents. Moreover, in the combined agents’ treatment, the number of A. gossypii on the both lower and upper cucumber leaves was not significantly different compare to other treatments that biological agentswere used seperatly. The number of mummified aphids did not differ between treatments at the end of the experiments. This is indicative of the tendency for ladybird beetles to feed on different growth stages of non-parasitized aphids compare to parasitized aphids containing immature stages of L. fabarum. The results indicate thatthe simultaneous application of both biocontrol agents is effective for the control of A. gossypii, although more research under greenhouse condition is needed.

By the end of the Cold War New and complex issues such as undermining the military power and security agency, The rise of NGOs and the emergence of new international and regional actors it came into being and regionalism was revised as a new perspective and paradigm. Therefore, the question has been raised that despite new developments in the international system, has the quasi -paradigm shift emerged in modern regionalism? In this way, how new theoretical approaches look at regionalism. In response to the hypothesis that, regionalism is one of the most important issues in international politics and has evolved at different levels than the classic. also, Contrary to realistic attitudes, new and varied perspectives have been put forward by networking approaches, structuralism, subsidiary systems, regional security, and later theories.

Foraging parasitoids often adjust their foraging behavior according to the conditions they encounter. In this study the effects of age and experience on foraging and oviposition behaviors of Fopius carpomyiae Silvestri, was studied on ber fruit fly, Carpomyia vesuviana Costa. For this purpose, synchronous cohorts of F. carpomyiae were established in two age groups (7-8, and 12-13 days old). Then, the mated females (naïve females) in both ages were released individually into Petri dishes containing a ber fruit with a batch of eggs of ber fruit fly. Each female (n= 20) was observed continuously under a stereomicroscope while all distinguishable behavioral events of its foraging (the time of onset and duration) were recorded in the patch. In another experiment, the female wasps (7-8 days old), were exposed individually to a batch of host eggs on ber fruit flies, in the experimental patch for 24 h (experienced females). Results revealed that older females spent longer time in patches (5.48 min) compared with that of younger females (5.13 min). However, the average time of oviposition behavior (144.7±9.3 versus 146.4±8.9 s / female, respectively; P= 0.636) and percent parasitism (38.5±3.5 versus 39.2±3.2%, respectively; P= 0.84) were not significantly different between two age groups of female wasps. There was no significant difference in patch staying times of naïve and experienced females, nevertheless, the later allocated more time to ovipositing behavior and had significantly higher frequency and ratio of this behavior compared with those of former. In general, experienced females parasitized more host eggs compared to that of naïve females (46.5±2.8 versus 39.2±3.2%, parasitized eggs / female, respectively; P= 0.045)