First faunistic study of Diplura in north of Iran with records of two species of Campodea (Campodeidae)

The hexapod fauna of Iran is still very incompletely known. The current study is the first report of dipluran species from Iran. Our studies and sampling were done in two northern provinces Mazandaran and Alburz during March to August 2012. Forty-five specimens of this order were collected. All the specimens were identified as Campodea (Dicampa) sprovierii Silvestri, 1932 or Campodea (Campodea) fragilis Meinert, 1865 (Campodeidae). Both the species are reported from Iran for the first time

APHIDS (HEMIPTERA: APHIDIDAE) ASSOCIATED WITH GRASSLANDS OF CENTRAL ALBORZ, IRAN

The aphid fauna associated with various host plants in grassland areas of central Alborz in Iran were studied. The samples were collected from 2002-2010 from different locations  in the southern foothills of  the Alborz Mountains which are a major highland on  the plateau of Iran. Eighty aphid species from 32 genera in association with 168 host plants were collected and identified.  In all, 284 aphid-host plant associations were recorded, 112 of which are new to Iran. Our results showed that grassland areas of central Alborz could be considered as major refugia for aphids from where they migrate to the neighboring cultivated fields. The aphid fauna associated with various host plants in grassland areas of central Alborz in Iran were studied. The samples were collected from 2002-2010 from different locations  in the southern foothills of  the Alborz Mountains which are a major highland on  the plateau of Iran. Eighty aphid species from 32 genera in association with 168 host plants were collected and identified.  In all, 284 aphid-host plant associations were recorded, 112 of which are new to Iran. Our results showed that grassland areas of central Alborz could be considered as major refugia for aphids from where they migrate to the neighboring cultivated fields

Biochar Addition to the Loam Soil of Soybean Fields Can Reduce Trifluralin Usage in Velvetleaf Control

Biochar, made by the pyrolysis of various organic materials such as plants, can amend soil physicochemical properties and improve the efficiency of pre-planted incorporated (PPI) herbicides. The excessive consumption of PPI herbicides results in environmental predicaments; improving the PPI herbicides’ efficacy by changing the soil’s biological properties might solve this problem. Trifluralin, a PPI, is recommended against annual broadleaf weeds such as velvetleaf in soybean fields. In the present study, the treatments included normal soil (NS) (sand 30% + silt 35% + clay 35%) and manipulated soil (MS) (sand 27% + silt 32% + clay 32% + biochar 9%). Two blocks of NS received the recommended dose (RD) (1.7 L/ha) (NS + RD) and a reduced dose (1.2 L/ha) (NS + ReD) of trifluralin. Meanwhile, the block of MS was exposed to the reduced dose (MS + ReD) of trifluralin. Two days after the herbicide treatments, the seeds of Abutilon theophrasti were sown. Then, seven days after sowing, the growth of the weeds was monitored and the weed control percentage was calculated using the arcsine model based on observed data. The results showed that the NS + RD was the most effective treatment in velvetleaf control (100%), followed by MS + ReD (93.5%) with no significant difference. The NS + ReD treatment resulted in 81% weed control showing significant differences with the NS + RD and MS + ReD. Thus, it seems that biochar acts as a neutral buffer and decreases the necessity of PPI herbicide application in soybean fields. Biochar application can potentially reduce soil contamination, weed resistance, environmental pollution, and the adverse effects of PPI herbicides on the soil microbial population

Checklist of the Iranian Ground Beetles (Coleoptera; Carabidae)

Azadbakhsh, Saeed, Nozari, Jamasb (2015): Checklist of the Iranian Ground Beetles (Coleoptera; Carabidae). Zootaxa 4024 (1): 1-108, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4024.1.

Sexual dimorphism of Colorado beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in the west and northwest of Iran by geometric morphometric method

The males and females of Colorado beetles do not reveal clear dimorphism and therefore they have high resemblance so that recognition of the sexes by simple eye is too difficult. In order to study sexual dimorphism in Colorado beetle, three geographical populations were collected from potato fields in Ardabil, Bahar and Hamedan regions by manual method and direct observation in the summer of 2012. Fore and hind wings were separated and 7 and 8 landmarks were orderly selected for the fore and hind wings at the end and angle of veins. Geometric coordinate of landmarks were converted to shape and size variables as comparison factors between the sexes. Wings relative variations were determined separately in male and female and it revealed variations of wing shape in evolutionary process. Multivariate analysis based on the results of regression of shape variables showed fore wing had allometry and hind wing had not allometry. Two way MANOVA analysis was conducted for observation of shape differences (base on average of shape variables) and size differences. The analysis showed that there were significant differences in shape of fore wing between the sexes

A new species of Angelopteromyia Korneyev, 2001 (Diptera, Platystomatidae) from Iran, with the key to the species

Angelopteromyia korneyevi Mohamadzade Namin, sp. n. from Iran is described and figured. The new species is similar to other species of Angelopteromyia inabdominal spiracles 5 of females not approximated medially, as well as clypeus extended postero-ventrally, antenna shorter than face, and R1 and R4+5 setulose on dorsal side. It differs from other species of Angelopteromyia bymostly brown wing with 3 hyaline crossbands and a few hyaline spots, and dark brownish basal and costal cells without hyaline spots

Revision of the Urophora xanthippe species group, with description of new species (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Namin, Saeed Mohamadzade, Nozari, Jamasb (2015): Revision of the Urophora xanthippe species group, with description of new species (Diptera: Tephritidae). Zootaxa 3990 (1): 97-112, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3990.1.

A new species of Urophora Robineau-Desvoidiy, 1830 (Diptera, Tephritidae) from Iran

Urophora merzi sp. n. reared from flower heads of Centaurea behen Linnaeus is described from Iran. It is similar to U. campestris, U. sachalinensis, U. stylata, U. tsoii and U. vera in wing pattern with 3 well developed crossbands and indistinct subbasal crossband, differing in aculeus tip with two pairs of diminished preapical steps and different host plants

Genetic diversity of six isolated populations of the leopard moth, Zeuzera pyrina (Lep: Zeuzeridae)

The leopard moth, Zeuzera pyrina (Lep: Zeuzeridae), is an important pest of a wide range of trees and shrubs including walnut and apple across the world. The natural populations of the leopard moth in different geographical areas of Iran show significant differences in some of their biological characteristics such as time of emergence, generation time and host specificity. So, we hypothesized that these populations may represent different subspecies that move toward a speciation event in their evolutionary route. In this study, we evaluated the genetic diversity of six different geographically isolated populations of the leopard moth using the sequence alignment of cytochrome oxidase c subunit one (COI). A fragment of 642 base pairs was amplified in all six populations and the phylogenetic tree was created based on sequenced fragments. Our results revealed significant differences in the nucleotide sequence of COI gene in these populations. Differences in climatic conditions of these regions seem to be the most powerful force driving this diversity among the studied populations

Investigating the Relationships between Habitat Parameters and Species Diversity of Carabidae (Coleoptera: Carabidae): A Case Study of Alborz Province

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of physical factors on the diversity of species of Carabidae (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in three regions of Karaj, Eshtehard, and Taleghan, Alborz province. To this end, during 2015-2016, sampling was carried out using pitfall traps and physical factors. In this regard, the elevation, slope, direction, precipitation, temperature, soil texture, grain size of soil, and percentage of vegetation were recorded in each studied station. Based on the results, in total, 329 specimens including 38 species were identified in the three studied areas. Pearson and Spearman tests were used to investigate the relationships between the species diversity index (Shannon's Diversity Index) and the studied factors. Also, the effect of habitat physical parameters on the diversity of the species of Carabidae in the studied areas was analyzed using Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). The results of the study showed that no significant relationship between the Shannon-Wiener Index and studied parameters (P<0.05). Species diversity was affected by temperature, the three parameters of altitude, soil texture, and grain size of soil, and the four parameters of direction, slope, precipitation, and vegetation percentage in Karaj, Eshtehard, and Taleghan, respectively