First report of the aphid, Appendiseta robiniae (Gillette, 1907) (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea), from Iran

During the faunistic survey of aphid species associated with ornamental shrubs in the urban green spaces of Mashhad, the capital city of Khorasan-Razavi province of Iran, in 2015, specimens of the species Appendiseta robiniae (Gillette, 1907) were collected from a colony on Vitex agnus-castus. This aphid species is reported here for the first time from Iran

First report of three species of dark-winged fungus gnats (Diptera: Sciaridae), on Pinus mugo Turra, from Iran

During a survey in 2015, three dark-winged fungus gnat species, Bradysia odoriphaga Yang & Zhang, 1985, Bradysia trivittata Staeger, 1840and Scatopsciara atomariaZetterstedt, 1851 were identified and recorded here from Iran for the first time. The genus Scatopsciara Edwards, 1927 is newly recorded from Iran as well. The identification of specimens were confirmed by Dr Kai Heller (Germany). The sciarid species were collected on the pine trees, Pinus mugo Turra, in the urban green landscapes of the city of Mashhad, Khorasan-e Razavi province, Iran

The first report of an aphid species, Cinara pini (Hem.: Lachnidae), from Iran

The aphid, Cinara pini (Linnaeus), is newly recorded from Iran. It was collected during a survey on pinus mugo Turra pests in Mashhad, Iran in April 2010. The aphid, which belongs to the subfamily Cinarinae, was identified by Dr. Olivera Petrovic-Obradovic from Serbia

A new species of the family Mesopsocidae (Insecta: Psocoptera) on ash trees from Iran

در بررسی تنوع گونه‏ای بندپایان درختان زبان گنجشک در شهرستان مشهد و حومه، نمونه‏هایی از شپش‏های چوب و کتاب در اسفند سال 1392جمع‌آوری شد که توسط پروفسور Charles Lienhard از موزه تاریخ طبیعی سوئیس با نام علمی Mesopsocus hiemalis Marikowskii (Psocoptera: Mesopsocidae) شناسایی گردید. این خانواده، جنس و گونه برای اولین‌بار از ایران گزارش می‌شود

Optical isolation via PT-symmetric nonlinear Fano resonances

We show that Fano resonances created by twoPT -symmetric nonlinear micro-resonators coupled to a waveguide, have line-shape and resonance position that depends on the direction of the incident light. We utilize these features in order to induce asymmetric transport, up to 47 dBs, in the optical C-window. Our theoretical proposal requires low input power and does not compromise the power or frequency characteristics of the output signal

First report of Lepinotus reticulatus and Ectopsocus vishnyakovae (Insecta: Psocoptera) from Iran

طی مطالعات انجام‌شده در اردیبهشت 1393 روی فون بندپایان درخت زبان گنجشک در شهرستان مشهد و حومه، نمونه‏هایی از شپش‏های چوب و کتاب جمع‌آوری گردید. نمونه‌ها نزد دکتر Charles Lienhard در موزه تاریخ طبیعی سوئیس ارسال گردید که با نام‌های Lepinotus reticulatus Enderlein (Psocoptera: Trogiidae) و Ectopsocus vishnyakovae Schmidt (Psocoptera: Ectopsocidae) شناسایی شد. هر دو گونه برای فون ایران گزارش جدید محسوب می‌شوند

First report of the aphid species, Cinara pinihabitans (Hem: Lachnidae) on Pinus mugo from Iran

The aphid species, Cinara pinihabitans (Mordvilko 1894), is newly recorded from Iran. It was collected from mountain pine, Pinus mugo,during a survey on the insect fauna of urban green landscapes of the city of Mashhad, Iran from June 2014 to July 2015

Isolation and characterization of metarhizium isolates from the soil of Afghanistan and their mycoinsecticide effects against subterranean termite (anacanthotermes vagans)

The entomopathogenic fungi are widely used as a biocontrol agent against many insect pests. In the present study, strains of Metarhizium were isolated and identified from Badakhshan province of Afghanistan. The taxonomic identity of the isolates was confirmed by molecular data, using (ITS) rDNA gene sequence, and morphology: Metarhizium robertsii and Metarhizium anisopliae. The virulence and the mass conidial production of these strains were compared with two Iranian isolates of Beauveria (B. bassiana and B. varroae) using four different raw substrates (broken rice, broken wheat, green gram, and saw dust) by solid-state fermentation. The M. robertsii strain had the highest total conidial yields obtained after 18 days on broken rice and the least conidial growth was observed on saw dust. For B. bassiana, the highest conidial yields were obtained after 18 days on green gram, and also like to M. robertsii, the least conidial growth was observed on saw dust. The conidia suspension was applied against subterranean termite, Anacanthotermes vagans, at four different concentrations (1×105, 1×106, 1×107, 1×108 conidia/ml-1). The highest mortality rate was obtained from 1×108 conidia/ml-1 for both M. robertsii and B. bassiana. In general, the indigenous isolate of M. robertsii was more virulent than B. bassiana while B. varroae had not effect on termites

Contact toxicity of essential oils of Allium sativum L. and Citrus nobilis var. deliciosa (Ten.) Swingle against adults of Blattella germanica (L.) (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae)

Background: The German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.), is an important health and economic pest. Due to the development of resistance to insecticides and medical and economic importance of German cockroaches in urban areas, researches have been focused on using environmental-friendly biopesticides. This study aimed to evaluate the contact toxicity of essential oils of Allium sativum L. and Citrus nobilis var. deliciosa (Ten.) Swingle against adults of B. germanica. Materials and Methods: The plant essential oils were obtained using a modified Clevenger-type apparatus through hydro-distillation. Bioassays were conducted using essential oil impregnated filter papers, which were placed at the bottom of plastic containers. The A. sativum oil was applied in the concentration ranges of 0.19-0.36 and 0.09-0.17 ml/m2, and the C. nobilis oil was applied in the ranges of 5.82-7.23 and 3.15-5.50 ml/m2 on females and males, respectively. Results: The results of probit analyses of mortality data after 24 hours indicated that mortality of cockroaches was increased with increasing oil concentration. The toxicity of A. sativum oil (with the LC50 values of 0.12 and 0.26 ml/m2 on males and females, respectively) was significantly higher than C. nobilis oil. Moreover, males were more susceptible than females to A. sativum and C. nobilis oils (2.24 and 1.58 times, respectively). Conclusion: To have a healthy and safety environment, the use of environmental-friendly biopesticides including essential oils is suggested for integrated management of German cockroaches' populations in urban areas