Faunistic study of vespid wasps in Zanjan Province (Northwest of Iran) with some ecological measures

The order Hymenoptera, with more than 115000 described species, comprise about 10% of the species diversity of the planet. Vespidae, one of the major families of this order, playsan important role in biological control of plant pests. In the present study, a faunistic investigation with estimation of some ecological indices of interspecific associations of vespid wasps was carried out in the northern part of Zanjan province (NW of Iran). The specimens were identified using available keys, and final identification confirmed by Dr. Josef Gusenleitner from Austria which resulted into 23 species as followidentically would according: Ancistrocerus auctus, Antepipona deflenda, A. vagabunda*, Eumenes dubius crimensis*, E. mediterraneus, E. papillarius, Euodynerus disconotatus sulfuripes*, E. fastidiosus*, E. posticus*, Eustenancistrocerus amadanensis, E. israelensis*, Katamenes dimidiatus, Knemodynerus excellens, Parodontodynerus ephippium*, Stenodynerus chevrieranus, S. chitgarensis, Polistes dominula, P. Dominulus bucharensis*, P. Gallicus, P. Iranus, P. Nimpha irakensis*, Vespa orientalis, Vespula germanica These species and taxa which were marked with an asterisk regarded as the first records for Zanjan province and Iran respectively. Interspecific association indices were determined for all species. Results showed that Ancistrocerus auctus with Euodynerus posticus, Antepipona vagabunda with Euodynerus fastidiosus & Eustenancistrocerus israelensis & Parodontodynerus ephippium, Euodynerus fastidiosus with Eustenancistrocerus israelensis & Parodontodynerus ephippium, Eustenancistrocerus israelensis with Parodontodynerus ephippium, and Polistes dominulus bucharensis with Eumenes mediterraneus had maximum positive interspecific association.