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The life table parameters of Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on four commercial cultivars of wheat (Kohdasht, Pastor, Tajan and Zagros) were determined in laboratory conditions. Fertility life table were constructed using age-specific survivorship (lx) and age-specific fecundity (mx) and subsequently analyzed using jackknife method and ANOVA. There were significant differences among pre-imaginal period and adult longevity of the aphid on the four wheat cultivars. The highest mortality occurred at first nymphal instar on all of wheat cultivars tested. The life expectancy (ex) of one-day-old adults was estimated to be 23.5, 24.6, 30.36 and 26.83 days on Kohdasht, Pastor, Tajan and Zagros, respectively. The gross reproductive rate was significantly higher on Tajan (102.39 ± 1.42 females/female/generation) compared with other three cultivars. The net reproductive rate (R­0) significantly differed on different wheat cultivars examined. The R0-value was highest on Tajan (82.21 ± 1.21) and lowest on Zagros (38.23 ± 0.63 females/female/generation). The highest and lowest values of the intrinsic rate of increase (rm) were 0.276 ± 0.002 (on Pastor) and 0.222 ± 0.001 day^-1 (on Zagros), respectively. The finite rate of increase (l) differed significantly among four wheat cultivars, ranging from 1.25 ± 0.00 (on Zagros) to 1.32 ± 0.00 days^-1 (on Pastor). Doubling time ranged from 2.51 ± 0.02 (on Pastor) to 3.12 ± 0.02 days (on Zagros). The longest mean generation time (T) of the aphid was obtained on Tajan cultivar. The results showed that the Zagros cultivar had the highest antibiotic effect on population growth of S. graminum.  

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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.

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Prior to this study eight species of Mesopolobus Westwood were recognized from Iran. In this study, one species namely M. aspilus (Walker) is newly recorded. An illustration of the external features of this species is provided. All known species from Iran were reviewed, the key to species and their geographical distribution in Iran is provided.

 

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Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) is one of the major limiting factors in host plant production in the world and Iran. In this study, the effect of semi-artificial diets based on the seeds of different cultivars of white and red kidney bean, canola, soybean, and cowpea on eco-physiological parameters of H. armigera were investigated. The results showed that the shortest (22.71 days) and longest (28.94 days) development time of H. armigera was observed on cowpea cultivar Mashhad and canola cultivar Opera, respectively. The maximum immature mortality of H. armigera was on soybean cultivars M7 and Clark. Cowpea cultivar Mashhad had the highest r (0.299 day^-1). The lowest level of proteolytic activity was 2.829 U mg^-1 on soybean cultivar M7 for the 3^rd instar larvae, 2.525 U mg^-1 on soybean cultivars Crark for the 4^th instar larvae, and 2.292 U mg^-1 on soybean cultivar Sari for the 5^th instar larvae. Nutritional indices of 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th and whole instar larvae of H. armigera were affected by the artificial diets, i.e. seeds of different cultivars. According to the results, semi-artificial diets containing bean seeds (specifically cowpea cultivar Mashhad and white kidney bean cultivar Daneshkadeh) were more suitable than semi-artificial diets containing soybean and canola seeds for rearing of H. armigera. 

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Low Molecular Weight Glutenin Subunits (LMW-GS), encoded by GLU-3 loci located on the short arm of homologous chromosomes of wheat, play an important role in the bread making quality. Some of the most important gens for quality are located on the D genome, which are interesting in wheat breeding programs. In addition to the bread wheat (Triticum​​​​​​​ aestivum), some species of Aegilops including Ae. cylindrica, Ae. tauschii, Ae. crassa, Ae. juvenalis, and Ae. vavilovi carry D genome. In this study, the phylogenetic relationship among Aegilops species with D genome and bread wheat has been studied based on the sequence of low molecular weight glutenins loci. The results indicated a great diversity for these loci. Presence of several numbers of common protein bands among species suggested a close relationship and high genetic flow among species. Three primers for the LMW-GS proteins were able to reveal the relationship between the species. The results showed a close relationship among bread wheat (T. astivum) and Ae. tauschii species. Ae. crassa species is more distant from bread wheat. Also, the results indicated a close relationship between the Ae. cylindrica, Ae. juvenalis, and Ae. vavilovi. A great diversity of LMW-GS in wild relatives and close relationship between these species and wheat suggest them as a potential source of genes for wheat breeding programs.
 

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Stethorus gilvifrons (Mulstant) is an important voracious predator of the spider mites, which consumes all the life stages of spider mites. In this study, the effects of prey species and host plants on development and life table parameters of S. gilvifrons were studied. To this end, preimaginal development, survival, adult longevity and fecundity of S. gilvifrons fed on Tetranychus urticae Koch (on maize and cowpea) and Eutetranychus orientalis Klein (on castor bean plants) were studied. Experiments were conducted based on two-sex life table procedure under laboratory conditions at 27±1°C, 60–70% RH and 16:8 hours L:D. The shortest developmental time and female longevity were recorded on maize and cowpea, respectively, and the longest was on castor bean. While the lowest values of fecundity, net Reproductive rate (R₀) and intrinsic rate of increase (r) were estimated at 107.65±11.49 offspring, 20.63±4.41 offspring and 0.1001±0.0072 d^-1 on castor bean, respectively, the highest values of the mentioned parameters were 158.67±20.18 offspring, 43.63±8.47 offspring, and 0.1448 ± 0.0069 d^-1 on maize, respectively. The results proved the significant effects of the host plants and prey species on developmental time and demographic parameters of S. gilvifrons. The obtained results could be useful for mass rearing of S. gilvifrons and for better understanding of its population dynamics in relation to the prey species and host plants.