Iranian journal of animal biosystematics
Volume:11 Issue: 2, Summer-Autumn 2015

Mutualistic interaction between aphids and ants is one of the classical examples of mutualism. The current study was carried out during 2013-2014 in Golestan province, North-eastern Iran, to investigate the myrmecophilous aphids and their relationships with ants. In this study, 11 ant species representing seven genera and two subfamilies associated with 12 aphid species belonging to two subfamilies were collected on different host plants. Among aphid species, Aphis gossypii Glover 1877 and A. craccivora Koch 1854 were observed frequently associated with ants, while among ant species, Crematogaster subdentata Mayr 1877 and Plagiolepis taurica Santschi 1920 had more frequent interactions with aphids. Moreover, except Formica persica, all ant species were reported for the first time from Golestan province. More detailed studies are needed to investigate aphid–ant mutualistic relationships in Iran to understand their complicated relationships in nature.

The genus Sericothrips Haliday is reported for the first time from Iran, based on the materials collected on Lotus sp. and identified as S. bicornis (Karny). The illustrations are provided for the new record. This is the third genus of subfamily Sericothripinae in Iran. The number of Thysanoptera genera in accordance with recent changes in Iran as well as host association of Iranian Sericothripinae are discussed.

By using published records and original data from recent research, the first checklist for subfamily Deltocephalinae from Iran is presented. This study is based on a comprehensive review of literature and the examination of some materials from our collection. The present checklist contains 185 species belonging to 74 genera. In addition for each species, the known geographical distribution in Iran and in the world is reported.

Five metric and 10 meristic characters were studied in 30 specimens of Eryx (Daudin, 1803) in Bahr Al-Najaf depression, Al-Najaf Province – Iraq. According to the results, and considering the principle of priority, we concluded that the populations of E. jaculus (Linnaeus, 1758) in the study area should be classified into E. jaculus jaculus (Linnaeus, 1758) and E. jaculus familiaris Echwald, 1831. In addition, ten specimens belonging to a population of Eryx in the area were found to differ from all other E. jaculus in that their second upper labial being lower than the third one. These specimens, which are tentatively regarded as Eryx cf.miliaris (Pallas, 1773), need more comprehensive study to clarify their taxonomic status and phylogenetic relationship using more morphological traits, ecology, and molecular studies.

Laudakia nupta, with numerous local populations through Iran, is one of the most widely distributed species of the Genus Laudakia in Iran. Eight hundred and fifty nine bp of mitochondrial ND4-tRNALEU were sequenced and analyzed for 47 specimens of Laudakia nupta and three specimens of Laudakia melanura, as an out-group taxon. All specimens were collected during field work in Iran. Based on branch pattern of the phylogenetic trees and the amounts of genetic distances within and between major clades recovered in the analysis, we propose that the taxonomic status of Laudakia nupta, as a species complex in Iran, should be fundamentally revised. Based on our results, two clear geographically isolated clades could be distinguished; one nominate species (Laudakia nupta) distributed through southwest to eastern Iran, and the other consisting of the populations of western foothills of the Zagros Mountains. The morphological analysis would enable us to describe the latter populations as a new species.

During fieldwork in May 2015 in southeastern Iran an adult Misonne’s swollen-nose gecko, Rhinogecko misonnei de Witte, 1973 was found. Distance of this point into type locality in the west of Kerman is 186 km and into next reported in the west of type locality is 238 km. This record introduces a new locality and wider distribution of Rhinogecko misonnei in Iran. There is information about morphology and habitat of this species.