Cicadatra lorestanica, a new species of cicada from Iran (Hemiptera: Cicadidae)

Cicadatra lorestanica, sp. n. is described from western Iran. The species was collected in oak woodlands. The song is a continuous series of sound pulses produced at a rate of 917 + 68 Hz (n=4) with peak frequency determined to be 11.391 + 0.099 kHz (n=4)

Variation of host plant-associated populations of Dubas bug, Ommatissus lybicus de Bergevin (Hem.: Tropiduchidae) in southern Iran

Dubas bug, Ommatissus lybicus de Bergevin (Hem.: Tropiduchidae), is a key pest of date palms in Iran.This pest was first reported on date palms in 1966 and has been established throughout the date producing regions in southern Iran since. Date palm is the only host plant of Dubas bug. It attacks almost all date palm varieties, esp. Mazafati variety in city of Bam, Kerman Province and other varieties such as Halilei and Karoot. Using geometric morphometric method on forewings, we studied the morphological characters of host-associated populations of this pest. Adult Dubas bugs were collected on three varieties of date palms, Phoenix dactylifera L., including: Mazafati, Halilei and Karoot from Bam in 2015. For the analysis of wing shape and wing size, MANOVA and ANOVA were done, respectively. An allometric analysis was performed on the shape and size variables. The results of MANOVA indicated a significant difference (P0.05). The regression of shape on the size variables showed no significant allometric growth (P >0.05). The UPGMA tree, based on the Mahalanobis distances matrix, detected two distinct groups: the first group was a population feeding on the Mazafati variety with narrow wing shapes, and the second were populations feeding on Halilei and Karoot varieties with wide and shorter wing shapes. The observed forewing shape of individuals in population feeding on the Mazafati variety may change their flight abilities, and other biological aspects, such as survival

Assessment of Geographic and Host-Associated Population Variations of the Carob Moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae, on Pomegranate, Fig, Pistachio and Walnut, Using AFLP Markers

The carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller 1839) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is the most important pest of pomegranate, Punica granatum L. (Myrtales: Ponicaceae), in Iran. In this study, 6 amplified fragment length polymorphism primer combinations were used to survey the genetic structure of the geographic and putative host-associated populations of this pest in Iran. An AMOVA was performed on test populations. Pairwise differences, Mantel test, multidimensional analysis, cluster analysis and migration rate were calculated for 5 geographic populations of E. ceratoniae sharing the same host, pomegranate. In another part of the study, 3 comparisons were performed on pairwise populations that were collected on different hosts (pomegranate, fig, pistachio and walnut) in same geographic regions. The results showed high within population variation (85.51% of total variation), however geographic populations differed significantly. The Mantel test did not show correlations between genetic and geographic distances. The probable factors that affect genetic distances are discussed. Multidimensional scaling analysis, migration rate and cluster analysis on geographic populations showed that the Arsanjan population was the most different from the others while the Saveh population was more similar to the Sabzevar population. The comparisons didn't show any host fidelity in test populations. It seems that the ability of E. ceratoniae to broaden its host range with no fidelity to hosts can decrease the efficiency of common control methods that are used on pomegranate. The results of this study suggest that in spite of the effects of geographic barriers, high within-population genetic variation, migration rate and gene flow can provide the opportunity for emerging new phenotypes or behaviors in pest populations, such as broadening host range, changing egg lying places, or changing over-wintering sites to adapt to difficult conditions such as those caused by intensive control methods

Host Plant-Associated Population Variation in the Carob Moth Ectomyelois ceratoniae in Iran: A Geometric Morphometric Analysis Suggests a Nutritional Basis.

The carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller, 1839) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is the most important pest of pomegranate in Iran. As it has been rarely recorded on other host plants, control methods have mostly been focused on its populations on pomegranate. In this study, shapes and sizes of wings were compared in populations on 4 host plants (pomegranate, fig, pistachio and walnut) using a landmark-based geometric morphometric method, and analysis of partial warp scores and centroid sizes. The results showed significantly smaller wing size in populations on pomegranate and a significant host plant-associated shape difference among populations as a consequence of allometric growth. This suggests that the wing size and shape differences among test populations may not have a genetic basis and could happen because of differences in the nutritional content of host plants. The results of the analysis suggest that the female carob moth lays her eggs on host plants that provide suitable conditions for hatching. The larger size of moths on hosts other than pomegranate showed that some host plants such as fig, pistachio and walnut can provide for increased stored nutritional reserves by larvae that may result in more successful over-wintering and higher fecundity in adults. This suggests that in spite of the more extensive activity of carob moth on pomegranate in Iran, populations on other host plants can have an important effect on expanding pest population sizes in following years which should be considered in control methods

Mapping local patterns of childhood overweight and wasting in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017

A double burden of malnutrition occurs when individuals, household members or communities experience both undernutrition and overweight. Here, we show geospatial estimates of overweight and wasting prevalence among children under 5 years of age in 105 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from 2000 to 2017 and aggregate these to policy-relevant administrative units. Wasting decreased overall across LMICs between 2000 and 2017, from 8.4% (62.3 (55.1–70.8) million) to 6.4% (58.3 (47.6–70.7) million), but is predicted to remain above the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target of <5% in over half of LMICs by 2025. Prevalence of overweight increased from 5.2% (30 (22.8–38.5) million) in 2000 to 6.0% (55.5 (44.8–67.9) million) children aged under 5 years in 2017. Areas most affected by double burden of malnutrition were located in Indonesia, Thailand, southeastern China, Botswana, Cameroon and central Nigeria. Our estimates provide a new perspective to researchers, policy makers and public health agencies in their efforts to address this global childhood syndemic

An Identification key to the species of Auchenorrhyncha of Iranian fauna recorded as pests in orchards and a review on the pest status of the species

Mozaffarian, Fariba (2018): An Identification key to the species of Auchenorrhyncha of Iranian fauna recorded as pests in orchards and a review on the pest status of the species. Zootaxa 4420 (4): 475-501, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4420.4.

A preliminary study on the distribution patterns of endemic species of Fulgoromorpha (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha) in Iran

Iran is known as the most complex and varied country in southwest Asia, in terms of geography, vegetation, climate and consequently biological diversity. The rather high number of recorded endemic species of Fulgoromorpha in Iran indicates a high potential for speciation in some areas.In this study, in order to identify the endemic zones for Fulgoromorpha of Iran, three main biogeographic regions of the country were divided into 13 primary zones, mainly according to the distribution of published and unpublished locality records of endemic species. Using Venn diagrams and cluster analyses on the primary zones, 6 final endemic zones were recognized: Caspian zone, southern slopes of Alborz, Zagros Mountains, Kerman Mountains, Khorasan Mountains, and Baluchestan and Persian Gulf coasts. Then a similarity map was produced for endemic zones using a Multidimensional analysis (Alscal) and the differences between the positions of the same zones in the similarity and geographic maps were discussed

Further spider (Arachnida: Araneae) material deposited in Agricultural Zoology Museum of Iran (AZMI), Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection

The results of the examination of further spider material deposited in the Agricultural Zoology Museum of Iran, Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection (Tehran, Iran), are reported, most of them from cereal fields and fruit orchards. A total of 634 specimens were studied, out of which, 106 species belonging to 70 genera and 27 families were identified. Five species are recorded for the fauna of Iran for the first time and documented by photos: Brigittea civica (Lucas, 1850) (Dictynidae), Pardosa roscai (Roewer, 1951) (Lycosidae), Tetragnatha isidis (Simon, 1880) (Tetragnathidae), Trachyzelotes miniglossus Levy, 2009 and Zelotes tenuis (L. Koch, 1866) (both Gnaphosidae). New provincial records are provided for additional 64 species. Earlier records of Heliophaneus aeneus (Hahn, 1832) in Iran are corrected to Heliophanus flavipes (Hahn, 1832) based on the re-examination of original material. Subsequently, H. aeneus has to be removed from the Iranian Checklist

Fagocyba cruenta Herrich-Schaffer 1838

&lt;i&gt;Fagocyba cruenta&lt;/i&gt; (Herrich-Sch&auml;ffer, 1838) &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Typhlocyba cruenta&lt;/i&gt; Herrich-Sch&auml;ffer, 1838b: 15.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Fagocyba cruenta&lt;/i&gt; (Herrich-Sch&auml;ffer, 1838): Dlabola (1981), Modarres Awal (1994), Mirzayans (1995), Abaii (2000).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Recorded distribution in Iran: North.&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Mozaffarian, Fariba &amp; Wilson, Michael R., 2016, A checklist of the leafhoppers of Iran (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae), pp. 1-63 in Zootaxa 4062 (1)&lt;/i&gt; on page 52, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4062.1.1, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/256796"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/256796&lt;/a&gt

Shirazia imitata Dlabola 1977

&lt;i&gt;Burakia&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i&gt;imitata&lt;/i&gt; (Dlabola, 1977) &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Shirazia imitata&lt;/i&gt; Dlabola, 1977: 251.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Shirazia imitata&lt;/i&gt; Dlabola, 1977: Dlabola (1977), Dlabola (1981) [listed], Dlabola (1984a), Mirzayans (1995).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Recorded distribution in Iran: Southwest.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Comments: The species is considered endemic to Iran.&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Mozaffarian, Fariba &amp; Wilson, Michael R., 2016, A checklist of the leafhoppers of Iran (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae), pp. 1-63 in Zootaxa 4062 (1)&lt;/i&gt; on pages 31-32, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4062.1.1, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/256796"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/256796&lt;/a&gt