Maedeh Mollaei, Hussein Sadeghi-Namaghi, Hossein Lotfalizadeh, Farzad Minab,
Volume 0, Issue 0 (9-2025)
Abstract
During a laboratory biological study of a midge, Feltiella acarisuga (Vallot, 1827) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), acarivorous on two-spotted spider mites, some ceraphronid specimens were reared from the midge cocoons. A detailed morphological study and comparison with previously known species revealed that the ceraphronid is a new species of Aphanogmus Thomson, 1858 (Hymenoptera: Ceraphronidae). The new species is described as A. feltiellophagus Lotfalizadeh, sp. nov. and compared with closely related species. An identification key for all Aphanogmus species associated with predatory cecidomyiids is provided. As a parasitoid of the pupal stage of Feltiella acarisuga, the potential negative impact of A. feltiellophagus on the biological control of tetranychid mites is discussed.
Alexandra D. Hernández Hernández, Marcio L. de Oliveira, David R. Diaz-Guevara, Cristina Alarcón-Ortiz, Alex Pazmiño-Palomino,
Volume 0, Issue 0 (9-2025)
Abstract
Orchid bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Euglossini) play a vital role as key pollinators in the Neotropical forests. Their preference for forested areas makes these bees more susceptible to environmental changes, particularly in areas under severe human impact, such as the Chocó-Darien biodiversity hotspot. This study presents new data on orchid bees within the Canandé Biological Reserve, a lowland rainforest in the Chocó region of northwestern Ecuador. At this site, four species of orchid bees were recorded for the first time in Ecuador: Euglossa bursigera Moure, 1970, Euglossa crassipunctata Moure, 1968, Euglossa villosiventris Moure, 1968 and Eufriesea macroglossa (Moure, 1965). We also provide species-specific information on diagnosis, distribution maps, and high-resolution images. With these records, the total number of orchid bee species recorded in Ecuador now stands at 119.
Puthuvayi Girish Kumar, Sreedharan Amal,
Volume 0, Issue 0 (9-2025)
Abstract
Spilomena bobyjosei Girish Kumar & Amal sp. nov., a new species of aphid wasp in the genus Spilomena Shuckard, 1838, is described from the Southern Western Ghats of Kerala, India. This genus is rarely collected from the Indian subcontinent, and most species are described from a single specimen. The genus can be distinguished from closely related genera in having occipital carina absent, hind wing media not diverging before Cu-a, fore wing with marginal cell elongate (longer than stigma), one recurrent vein and two discoidal cells present, stigma large and pronotal collar with complete transverse carina. To date, ten species have been described from India. This paper adds an eleventh species. The differential diagnosis with its nearest species is provided. Additionally, a key to the Indian species of Spilomena is provided.
Maryam Zardouei Heydari, Ehsan Rakhshani, Azizollah Mokhtari,
Volume 5, Issue 1 (3-2019)
Abstract
Iranian species of the genus Erigorgus Forster, 1869 are taxonomically reviewed. The sampling was done using Malaise traps in Eastern provinces of Iran. Two species, Erigorgus cerinops (Gravenhorst, 1829) and Erigorgus fibulator (Gravenhorst, 1829) are reviewed, of which the second species represents occurrence of this genus in East of Iran. A brief diagnosis based on the reliable morphological characters, as well as an illustrated key to Iranian species are provided. The geographical distribution of the recorded species in the Palaearctic regions is also discussed.
Alireza Rajabi Mazhar, Konstantin Samartsev, Shila Goldasteh, Samira Farahani,
Volume 5, Issue 2 (6-2019)
Abstract
A survey of Braconinae wasps was conducted at five sites, represented by various agroecosystems, rangelands and forests in Western Iran (Hamadan province) during 2015−2016 with a series of light and Malaise traps. Fifteen species belonging to three genera (Bracon Fabricius, Glyptomorpha Holmgren and Pseudovipio Szépligeti) were identified, among them five species, viz. Bracon concavus Tobias, B. fumigidus Szépligeti, B. iskilipus Beyarslan & Tobias, B. moczari Papp and B. novus Szépligeti, were recorded for the first time from Iran. 15 species are new provincial records for Hamadan.
Julia Stigenberg, Francisco Javier Peris-Felipo,
Volume 5, Issue 3 (9-2019)
Abstract
A total of seven Dacnusini (Hym., Braconidae, Alysiinae) species are recorded for the first time for Sweden: Antrusa chrysotegula (Tobias, 1986), Aristelix phaenicura (Haliday, 1839), Chorebus (Phaenolexis) caesariatus Griffiths, 1967, Chorebus (Chorebus) scabrifossa Stelfox, 1957, Coelinidea gracilis (Curtis, 1829), Eucoelinidea compressa Tobias, 1979 and Sarops rea Nixon, 1942. Moreover, the genera Aristelix Nixon, 1943, Eucoelinidea Tobias, 1979 and Sarops Nixon, 1942 are thus recorded for the first time in Sweden. Finally, a checklist of the Swedish Dacnusini species is provided.
Alaleh Mirshekar, Seyed Massoud Madjdzadeh, Mohammad Khayrandish,
Volume 6, Issue 1 (3-2020)
Abstract
The spider wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) of Kerman province were faunistically investigated. A total of 17 species of 12 genera belonging to three subfamilies, Ceropalinae, pepsinae and pompilinae were collected during 2017–2018 and identified. Among the collected material, three species of Ceropalinae, Ceropales juncoi Giner, 1945, Ceropales kriechbaumeri Magretti, 1884, Ceropales maroccana de Beaumont, 1947 and a single species of Pompilinae, Agenioideus gentilis (Klug, 1834) are recorded for the first time for the fauna of Iran. Geographical distribution of each species in Kerman province, Iran and outside Iran are presented.
Zahra Rahmani, Ehsan Rakhshani, James Michael Carpenter,
Volume 6, Issue 1 (3-2020)
Abstract
231 species of the family Vespidae (Hymenoptera, Vespoidea) of Iran, in 55 genera belonging to 4 subfamilies Eumeninae (45 genera, 184 species), Masarinae (5 genera, 24 species), Polistinae (2 genera, 17 species) and Vespinae (3 genera, 6 species) are listed. An overall assessment of the distribution pattern of the vespid species in Iran indicates a complex fauna of different biogeographic regions. 111 species are found in both Eastern and Western Palaearctic regions, while 67 species were found only in the Eastern Palaearctic region. Few species (14 species – 6.1%) of various genera are known as elements of central and western Asian area and their area of distribution is not known in Europe (West Palaearctic) and in the Far East. The species that were found both in the Oriental and Afrotropical Regions comprises 11.7 and 15.6% the Iranian vespid fauna, respectively. Many species (48, 20.8%) are exclusively recorded from Iran and as yet there is no record of these species from other countries. The highest percentage of the vespid species are recorded from Sistan-o Baluchestan (42 species, 18.2%), Alborz (42 species, 18.2%), Fars (39 species, 16.9%) and Tehran provinces (38 Species 16.5%), representing the fauna of the Southeastern, North- and South Central of the country.
Maryam Zardouei Heydari, Ehsan Rakhshani, Azizollah Mokhtari, Martin Schwarz,
Volume 6, Issue 2 (6-2020)
Abstract
The genus Latibulus Gistel, 1848 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) is taxonomically reviewed in Iran. Specimens were collected using Malaise traps in the Isfahan province, during 2013–2015. Two species, Latibulus argiolus (Rossi, 1790) (spring form) and Latibulus orientalis (Horstmann, 1987) (summer form) are identified, of which L. orientalis is a new record for the fauna of Iran. In addition, L. argiolus is recorded from central part of Iran (Isfahan) for the first time. The geographical distribution of the recorded species in relation to the overall knowledge in the target area and adjacent regions is also discussed.
Mikaeel Pasandideh Saqalaksari, Ali Asghar Talebi, Thomas van de Kamp,
Volume 6, Issue 4 (12-2020)
Abstract
Traditionally, entomologists have used destructive methods especially dissection in order to investigate the important taxonomic characters of specimens. New technologies for imaging and analyzing in taxonomy, offer opportunities to deposit three-dimensional (3D) data to proposed for rare and valuable type materials in museums and collections. Micro-computed tomography, as a non-destructive imaging technique, has become an emerging and progressive technology in insect science. However, this technology is rarely used in entomology compared to in medical and industrial applications. In this study, MicroCT imaging protocols are explained in detail using three species of braconid wasps: Aleiodes arnoldii Tobias, 1976 (Braconidae: Rogadinae), Hormius moniliatus Nee, 1811 (Braconidae: Hormiinae) and Macrocentrus bicolor Curtis, 1833 (Braconidae: Macrocentrinae). MicroCT scan data of three braconid wasp species from Iran, depicted main identification of skeletal body parts. A brief step-by-step is provided on image acquisition, 3D reconstruction and mesh editing to create a virtual model of the species utilized for morphological and morphometric studies. As a result, the use of micro-computed tomography as a non-invasive virtual examination tool was explored. The complete datasets containing the raw TIFF MicroCT data, 3D models and 3D rotation videos available for download at http://www.morphosource.org/Detail/ProjectDetail/Show/project_id/822
Farid Shirzadegan, Ali Asghar Talebi, Matthias Reidel, Hamidreza Hajiqanbar,
Volume 7, Issue 3 (9-2021)
Abstract
A survey was conducted on the fauna of Ichneumonini Latreille, 1802 (Ichneumonidae: Ichneumoninae) in North-central area of Iran. The specimens were collected using Malaise traps from March to November in 2010–2011. A total of 28 species were identified, of which three species and one subspecies are recorded for the first time from Iran: Eutanyacra ruficornis Berthoumieu, 1894; Ichneumon quadrialbatus Gravenhorst, 1820; Ichneumon sarcitorius turkestanicus Heinrich, 1929; Stenobarichneumon basalis Perkins, 1960. As well 17 species are new provincial records. A new species, Anisopygus persicus Shirzadegan, Talebi & Riedel sp. nov. from Guilan province in northern Iran is described and illustrated. The known number of Ichneumonini species in Iran is now raised to 143. Detailed morphological characters of the newly recorded species and Virgichneumon albilineatus (Gravenhorst, 1820), as well as an updated list of the tribe Ichneumonini from Iran, are provided.
Prince Tarique Anwar, Shahid Bin Zeya, Farmanur Rahman Khan, Syeda Uzma Usman,
Volume 7, Issue 4 (12-2021)
Abstract
Males of the subgenus Eofoersteria Mathot (Hym., Mymaridae, Camptoptera Foerster) are diagnosed, described, and illustrated for the first time, based on examination of specimens from Tamil Nadu and from photographs of the male paratype of Camptoptera matcheta Subba Rao from Karnataka. New distributional records of C. (Eofoersteria) manipurensis (Rehmat & Anis) from Karnataka and Kerala states of India are documented.
S. Anagha, Puthuvayi Girish Kumar, Vishwanath D. Hegde,
Volume 7, Issue 4 (12-2021)
Abstract
The genus Sphex Linnaeus (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) is studied from India and key to Indian species is provided. The state-wise distributions of four species of Sphex are augmented here. A new synonymy is proposed: Sphex zubaidiyacus Augul, 2013 = S. obscurus (Fabricius, 1804).
Nazila Saghaei, Toshko Ljubomirov, Cornelis van Achterberg, Majid Fallahzadeh,
Volume 7, Issue 4 (12-2021)
Abstract
We provide new findings on the distribution of 13 species of the family Gasteruptiidae (Hymenoptera, Evanioidea) collected at 17 sampling localities in Fars and Hormozgan Provinces, south of Iran. The specimens were collected using Malaise traps during 2013–2019. Two species, Gasteruption sericeipes Kieffer, 1911 and G. syriacum Szépligeti, 1903 are new additions to the Iranian wasp fauna. Furthermore, 10 species are new provincial records. With the present additions, the total number of gasteruptiids recorded from Hormozgan, Fars and Iran is currently raised to 2, 14 and 29 species, respectively. For each species, provincial distribution in Iran and overall distribution, as well as the flight period, are presented and discussed together with the available references.
Raveendran K.p. Hanima, Tharakadu K. Viswanath, Puthuvayi Girish Kumar,
Volume 8, Issue 1 (3-2022)
Abstract
View on Scopus
The Sri Lankan species,
Methocha ubiquita Krombein, 1982 is newly reported for the fauna of India. Differential characters, figures, distribution map and comparisons of the newly recorded species with original description of type material are provided.
Alireza Pourhaji, Hossein Lotfalizadeh, Naser Kasebi, Babak Gharali, Ali Ameri,
Volume 8, Issue 1 (3-2022)
Abstract
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A study was conducted to determine the braconinae (Hym., Braconidae) parasitoid wasps, associated with Asteraceae in the northwest of Iran during 2013-2015. Ten species were reared from flower-heads of Asteraceae:
Bracon bipartitus Wesmael, 1838;
B. leptus Marshall, 1897;
B. luteator Spinola, 1808;
B. mariae Dalla Torre, 1898;
B. pectoralis Wesmael, 1838;
B. subrugosus Szépligeti, 1901;
B. talyshicus Tobias, 1976;
B. trucidator Marshall, 1888;
B. tschitscherini Kokujev, 1904 and
B. urinator (Fabricius, 1798), of which one species (i.e.,
B. talyshicus) is recorded for the first time from Iran. We also reared some non-frugivorous Tephritidae feeding on the collected flower-heads that can be possible host of these braconids. General distribution and biological associations for all species that have been collected in this study are compiled.
N.v. Ayisha Mawadda, Puthuvayi Girish Kumar,
Volume 8, Issue 1 (3-2022)
Abstract
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The crabronid wasp,
Solierella turneri Dutt, 1917 (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) is newly recorded from various regions of India and female is described. Hitherto, the
S.
turneri Dutt has been only reported from northern India (Pusa of Bihar), the current record extends its range to southern India (Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka).
Mohammad Allahverdi, Vladimir G. Radchenko, Lida Fekrat, Hossein Sadeghi Namaghi, Ahmad Nadimi,
Volume 8, Issue 1 (3-2022)
Abstract
View on Scopus
A checklist of the bees of the genus
Hylaeus Fabricius, 1793 of Iran, based on the literature data and also field surveys in northeastern Iran (North Khorasan and Khorasan-e Razavi provinces) is presented. The resulting checklist comprises nine subgenera and 63 species. Four species of the genus
Hylaeus, including
H. (
Lambdopsis)
rinki (Gorski, 1852),
H. (
Spatulariella)
hyalinatus Smith, 1842,
H. (
Spatulariella)
punctatus (Brullé, 1832) and
H. (
Prosopis)
lionotus (Alfken, 1909), are newly recorded for the fauna of Iran. The later species is considered as ″ very rare″ , has only known in Kazakhstan. A re-description of the male of
H. (
Prosopis)
lionotus together with the illustrations of morphological characters is given.
Negar Bahremand, Mohammad Khayrandish, Abbas Mohammadi-Khoramabadi, Matthias Reidel,
Volume 8, Issue 1 (3-2022)
Abstract
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The fauna of the Ophioniformes group (Hym.: Ichneumonidae) was studied in the southern part of Kerman province, Iran during 2014–2015. Four localities (Faryab, Jiroft, Maskoon and Sarbijan) have been surveyed using eight Malaise traps. Two traps were operated in each location. A total of 135 specimens of the Ophioniformes group have been collected and identified representing 27 species into seven subfamilies and 17 genera. One genus (i.e.
Meloboris Holmgren, 1859) and six species are reported from Iran for the first time:
Diadegma kyffhusanae Horstmann, 1973,
Hyposoter barretti (Bridgman, 1881),
Hyposoter caudator Horstmann, 2008,
Meloboris collector (Thunberg, 1822),
Sinophorus pleuralis (Thomson, 1887) and
Mesochorus arenarius (Haliday, 1838). Fifteen species are newly recorded from Kerman province. The biographical and altitudinal range distribution, as well as adult flight period of the identified species, are also discussed.
Rawa Muhsen Youssef, Nabil Hasan Abo Kaf, Rafeek Aboud,
Volume 8, Issue 2 (6-2022)
Abstract
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Stenomesius japonicus (Ashmead, 1904) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) was collected for the first time from larvae of the tomato leaf-miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) infesting Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. in Syria. Diagnostic morphological characters, biology and distribution of the newly recorded species are provided. Its role in the biological or integrated control of T. absoluta remains to be evaluated. A list of all eulophid wasps recorded from Syria is also provided.
