Two new records of encyrtids as parasitoid of Sphaerolecanium prunastri (Hem.: Coccidae) in Iran

این تحقیق در سال 1384 به منظور شناسایی زنبورهای پارازیتویید شپشکSphaerolecanium prunastri Boyer de Fonscolombe (Hem.: Coccidae) در استان خراسان رضوی انجام شد. نمونه‌برداری به صورت دو‌هفته‌یک‌بار از هفت منطقه شامل مشهد، نیشابور، تربت حیدریه، فریمان، شیروان، اسفراین و کلات نادر انجام شد. هشت گونه زنبور پارازیتویید در این مناطق شناسایی شد که دو گونه‌ی Cheiloneurus claviger ThomsonوDiscodes coccophagus (Ratzeburg) از خانواده‌ی Encyrtidae برای اولین‌بار از ایران گزارش می‌شوند

New species and new record of Chelonini (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from western Iran

In 2015 and 2016, the occurrence of the tribe Chelonini (Braconidae, Cheloninae) in the province of Hamadan (western Iran) was surveyed using malaise traps. In total, 12 species were discovered. Chelonus (C.) olgae Kokujev, 1895 is new to the fauna of Iran and one species, Chelonus (Microchelonus) subpamiricus Farahani & van Achterberg sp. nov., is new to science. The diagnostic characters and supplementary illustrations of the newly recorded species are provided

The occurrence of three species of the genus Oscheius Andrassy, 1976 (Nematoda: Rhabditida) in Iran

Due to importance and effectiveness of some entomopathogenic or insect parasitic nematodes in controlling of agricultural pests, or pests of non-agricultural plants, a study was conducted in order to identify the species of this group of nematodes in city of Tehran. As the result, three species belonging to the genus Oscheius were recovered in association with bark samples having the bark beetle galleries. Morphological and molecular data were provided for two recently recovered species of the genus, namely O. necromenus and O. onirici. Molecular data were also provided for a recently recovered isolate of O. tipulae. All three species were recovered in association with bark samples collected from dead trees in the city of Tehran. Morphological characters and morphometric data of the two aforementioned species are in accordance with the data given in their original descriptions. One recovered individual from a small bark sample characterized by its short body length was sequenced for its 28S and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA loci, and the results of BLAST search using the newly obtained partial sequences revealed that it belonged to O. tipulae. Molecular phylogenetic studies revealed recently sequenced Iranian populations of O. onirici and O. tipulae forming a clade with other isolates/populations of these species in ITS tree with maximal Bayesian posterior probability (BPP), and presently sequenced isolates of O. tipulae and O. necromenus form a clade with other isolates of these species in 28S tree. The two species O. onirici and O. necromenus were reported in Iran for the first time

Influence of nitrogen fertilization on biology of Aphis gossypii (Hemiptera: Aphididae) reared on Chrysanthemum indicum (Asteraceae)

The experiment studied the effect of different nitrogen levels on the biology and life table parameters of the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover reared on Chrysanthemum indicum Kitan. The fertilizer treatments were administered at 0, 25, 50, 100 and 150% of the agronomic recommended concentration. The aphids were collected from greenhouses in Mahalat and transported to pots. The different nitrogen fertilizer levels did not show a specific effect on the potassium and phosphorus content in leaves. The intrinsic rate of increase and net reproductive rate ranged from 0.173 to 0.225, and 15.47 to 28.28, respectively, at different tested fertilizer levels. The aphids showed the significantly lowest mean generation time and the highest finite rate of increase when fed on chrysanthemum fertilized at a 150% fertilizer level. The aphids fecundity and survival showed a positive correlation when the fertilizer concentration was increased. On the other hand, the highest life expectancy was obtained for the aphids fed on chrysanthemum with a 25% nitrogen level. The present data suggest that plant nitrogen content is an important factor contributing to the increase severity of the cotton aphid as a pest of chrysanthemum