Fruit flies (Dip.: Tephritidae) reared from capitula of Asteraceae in the Urmia region, Iran

A list of 20 species of the subfamily Tephritinae (Diptera: Tephritidae) from the Urmia region (Azarbaijan-e Gharbi province, Iran) is presented. The specimens were collected during 2005-2008 from six different localities. Adults were obtained from overwintering and mature seed heads of 17 plant species of Asteraceae. The species, Urophora xanthippe (Munro, 1934) is newly recorded for the fauna of Iran. Thirteen new host plants are also reported for the first time. The host plants, collection date, locality as well as general distribution and associated plants of each species are given

Biology of the common reed gall forming fly Lipara lucens (diptera: Chloropidae) in Urmia region, Iran

Abstract Common reed, Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steudel (Poaceae) is a perennial rhizomatous grass that occurs all over the world. The species is able to grow in a wide range of habitats. Some biological characteristics of Lipara lucens Meigen (Chloropidae) a monophagous gall inducer in the apical part of common reed stems was studied during the years 2011 and 2012 in Urmia region (Azarbaidjan-e Gharbi province, Iran). The results of this study revealed that, l. lucens complete a single generation in a year and overwinters as mature larva inside the gall. All larval and pupal stages were developing inside the gall. The adults appear during the first week of May to late June. Newly emerged females mate continual throughout their life span. After mating, the females lay eggs singly on the surface of leaves and stems of common reed. Female's potential fecundity was calculated 87.4±19.8 (range: 59-121). In natural conditions, incubation period takes 10.5±1.8 (range: 8-13) days. Upon hatching, the young larvae migrate to the top and enter the bud and gnaw their way to the growing point. The species have a long larval development time with three larval stages. Its duration takes more than 10 months inside the gall. Mature larvae stay in the gall until mid-May of following year. Pupation starts in mid-April and takes place in the gall. Depending upon natural conditions the duration of the pupal period takes 19.7±5.3 (range: 15-26) days. The new generation of adults appears in early May. Study on the parasitoids of L. lucens revealed that the larvae of this fly were parasitized by Polemochartus liparae (Giraud, 1863) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Tetrastichus legionarius Giraud, 1863 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) in Urmia region. The most common parasitoid was P. liparae which was responsible for up to 48% of parasitism. Both species are newly recorded from Iran. In addition, specimens of Cryptonevra flavitarsis Meigen, 1830 (Diptera: Chloropidae) were found in L. lucens galls

First report of Calamoncosis similis (Dip.: Chloropidae) from Iran

The black-ended gall fly, Calamoncosissimilis (Schiner), is newly recorded from Iran. It was collected during the surveys on herbivorous insects associated with common reed (Poaceae) in Urmia region located in northwestern province of West Azarbaijan

Life history of the cotton thistles capitulum weevil, Larinus latus (Col.: Curculionidae) and its impact on seed production in Urmia region, Iran

Cotton thistles, Onopordum spp. (Asteraceae), are plants native to Mediterranean basin, southwest and central Asia. Their reproduction is entirely by seed and the plants are biennial. The biology of cotton thistles capitulum weevil, Larinus latus (Herbst), was studied on Onopordum acanthium and O. leptolepis in fields and rangelands of Urmia. The weevil has a single generation annually and overwinters as an adult. Adults emerge from hibernation late May concurrently with the thistles starting to produce bolting stems. After emerging, they feed on the leaves, capitula and pollen of Onopordum species and mate from time to time throughout adult's life span. Then females lay eggs from the onset of the capitulum development until the completion of flowering. Eggs are laid singly by the female in between the bracts or at the base of the flower heads. Females cover their eggs by feces to protect them from natural enemies and dehydration. The mean number of eggs laid per female was 36.7 ± 3.6. Upon hatching, the young larvae bore into the capitulum where they feed on receptacle tissue and developing seeds. The larvae of the capitulum weevil are very destructive and one larva can destroy all the seeds in a flower head of 20-37 mm in diameter. In natural conditions, the development of L. latus from egg to emerging adult takes approximately six weeks. Mature larvae produce pupal cells in the margins of seed head and then pupate. A new generation of adults emerge from pupa from early August to the beginning of September and search for a protected site to pass the autumn and winter. The results showed that this weevil is responsible for the loss of 38-40% of seeds in O. acanthium and 49-57% in O. leptolepis. Two species of parasitic wasps, Baryscapus cf. crassicornis (Hym.: Eulophidae) and Bracon (Rostrobracon) urinator (Fabricius) (Hym.: Braconidae), were collected from the larvae of L. latus, of which the latter species, B. urinator, is newly recorded from Iran

New records of two grass fly species (Dip.: Chloropidae) from Iran

دو گونه از مگس‌های خانواده Chloropidae به نام‌هایLipara lucens (Meigen) و Cryptonevra flavitarsis (Meigen) برای اولین‌بار از ایران گزارش می‌شوند. حشرات کامل مگس‌ L. lucens از گال‌های ایجاد‌شده در جوانه‌ انتهایی گیاه نی، Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. Ex Steudel، به‌دست آمدند. حشرات کامل مگس C. flavitarsis نیز از درون گال‌های ایجاد‌شده به‌وسیله‌ مگس L. lucens در جوانه نی خارج شدند. این گونه گال‌زی بوده و در منطقه‌ Palaearctic انتشار دارد

Biology, host specificity and feeding potential of the Dock's leaf defoliator sawfly, Kokujewia ectrapela Konow (Hymenoptera: Argidae), a biocontrol agent of Rumex spp. (Polygonaceae)

Dock's leaf defoliator sawfly, Kokujewia ectrapela Konow (Hym.,Argidae), is a medium sized sawfly native tothe Caspian fauna. The larvae were found living on Rumex spp. (Polygonaceae). In order to determine the biology, host specificity and feeding potential of the species, continuous rearing was conducted in field and laboratory conditions during 2011-2013. The results revealed that K. ectrapela completed six generations within the growing season and hibernated as a fully developed larva inside the protective cocoon in the plant litter surrounding the Rumex plants. The first generation appeared from the early April to the end of May and the last generation in the late September. After emergence, adults copulated and using their saw-like ovipositor fertile females inserted their eggs along the edges of the Rumex leaves. Mean fecundity was showed to be 148.67 ± 37.33 eggs per female. Newly hatched larvae aggregated and fed on the underside of the leaves. However, later instars dispersed on the host plant and continued to feed on the leaves, leaving only the major veins. Larvae developed through three instars and it took 9-23 days depending upon environmental conditions. Pupation occurs within silken whitish cocoons spun among or out of the host plant. Depending upon environmental conditions, the developmental time from eggs to adults lasted 28-43 days. Study on the parasitoids revealed that the larvae of K. Ectrapela were parasitized by Cryptus inquisitor (Hym., Ichneumonidae) and Tetrastichus kokujewiae (Hym., Eulophidae) in Urmia region. Results of no-choice feeding tests with the second instars on 27 plant species belonging to 13 families showed that K. ectrapela completed its life cycle mainly on plants of Rumex and occasionally fed on Polygonum persicaria L. (Polygonaceae). Investigation on feeding activity of the three larval instars of K. ectrapela on Rumex obtusifolius L. under laboratory conditions revealed that a single first-instar larva consumed mean 0.041 ± 0.001 g of R. obtusifolius leaves over its 3 days of development. Second and third instar larvae consumed mean 1.227 ± 0.006 g, and 3.058 ± 0.014 g, over their 4 and 5 days of development, respectively

The first report of Aulacidea acroptilonica and Isocolus cirsii (Hym.: Cynipidae) from Iran

دو گونه از زنبورهای خانواده‌ی Cynipidae شامل Aulacidea acroptilonica Tyurebaev وIsocolus cirsii Diakontshuk از ارومیه جمع‌آوری شد که گزارش جدید برای فون ایران محسوب می‌شوند. گیاهان میزبان، تعدادی از ویژگی‌های مهم شکل‌شناسی و زیست‌شناسی این زنبورها ارائه شده است

Pegomya bicolor (Dip.: Anthomyiidae), a species new to Iran fauna

The anthomyiid fly, Pegomya bicolor (Wiedemann, 1817), is newly recorded from Iran. It was collected during surveys on biocontrol agents of Rumex spp. (Polygonaceae) in Urmia region, north west of Iran. This leaf-mining fly is widely distributed in the Palaearctic region on several species of Rumex. Voucher specimens are being held at the Natural History Museum of Urmia University

Report of Gregopimpla malacosomae (Hym.: Ichneumonidae), parasitoid of Malacosoma castrense (Lep.: Lasiocampidae), from Iran

Gregopimpla malacosomae (Seyrig) was collected and identified as a parasitoid of Malacosoma castrense (L.), during the research on the bioecology of the latter species in Shohada (Gasemloo) valley, Urmia. This Ichneumonid wasp is a new record for Iran