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Being a promising component of educational and occupational success, the inclusion of critical thinking in various aspects of schooling has gained momentum in recent years. Therefore, the present study investigated the Iranian 12th grade English language final examinations based on Bloom’s revised taxonomy in terms of “knowledge dimension” and “cognitive process dimension” over the last five years of exam administration. Using a quantitative content analysis design, the items of the aforementioned examinations administered from 2019 to 2023 were analyzed. The findings of the study showed that the frequency of “conceptual knowledge” items in the “knowledge dimension” and “understand” items in the “cognitive process dimension” were significantly higher based on the results of Chi-square test. Moreover, the frequency of items relevant to lower-order thinking skills was found to be considerably higher than that of the items related to higher-order thinking skills, although instances of top cognitive level items could be traced in these examinations. It was also revealed that there was no considerable change with regard to the inclusion of the two dimensions of Bloom’s revised taxonomy over the five years of administration under study. The results of this study can be a fillip for policy makers, textbook developers, and teachers to accelerate the required changes regarding the consideration of inclusion of critical thinking-based tasks in textbooks, lesson plans and examinations.
 

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Based on a comprehensive review of existing literature and examining the specimens, including 11 types that were housed in the Coleoptera Section of the Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, 154 species of tortoise beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) from India are identified. This represents approximately 5.4% of the species diversity of the known tortoise beetles. Photographs of the examined specimens (including type specimens) are also provided. The details of the distribution of all the species across Indian states (including districts and micro-locations) and biogeographic zones are presented. Studying the distribution data of the species reveals that the Western Ghats harbours the highest number of tortoise beetle species (84), followed by the Northeast (58), Deccan Peninsula (51), Himalayas (49), Gangetic plains (34), Islands (12), and Semi-Arid regions (12).

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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.

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This study was performed on the collections of the National Zoological Collection of the Zoological Survey of India and described a new species in the “multidentati” Cyphoderus group from Bihar, India. This new species, Cyphoderus bihariensis sp. nov., is described with a distinguishing comparison among other species within this group. The new species is notably large compared to its counterparts in this group. This study also redescribed Cyphoderus javanus Börner, 1906 collected from various localities and habitats across India and provides additional morphological identification characters and chaetotaxy for taxonomic sufficiency. Earlier, India was home to nine Cyphoderus species from various localities across the country. Additionally, an identification key to the Indian Cyphoderus is included.

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Indopalpares pardus (Rambur, 1842), Palpares contrarius (Walker, 1853), and Stenares harpyia (Gerstaecker, 1863) are the species of the tribe Palparini which are recorded for the first time from the Kerala part of Western Ghats. All three taxa are redescribed and the genitalia features of P. contrarius, and S. harpyia are illustrated for the first time based on the freshly collected specimens. Lectotype and paralectotype specimens of S. harpyia are designated. The key to the genera of the tribe Palparini from India and the distribution of three species in India are also mapped. Moreover, their flight period in India is plotted.

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A new species of oak gallwasp, Andricus synophri (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini) is described from Iran. Data on the diagnosis, distribution and biology of the new species are given. This species is known only from asexual females and induces galls on the twigs of Quercus brantii and Q. libani. Galls aremultilocular, develop on lateral buds of young branches. According to its morphology, Andricus synophri belongs to a large group of 12 Andricus species, the “Adleria non-kollari” group.

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The genus Ametastegia Costa 1882 (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae: Allantinae) was studied in northern Iran. The specimens were collected using sweeping net and Malaise traps during March to November 2010 and 2011. Four species were collected and identified of which Ametastegia persica Khayrandish, Talebi & Blank sp. n. is described as new to science. An illustrated key for identification of Ametastegia species in Iran is provided.

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This study was carried out to determine the species of the subfamily Hormiinae in Hormozgan province (Southern Iran), during February 2011–July 2013. Malaise traps, sweep nets and light traps were used to obtain adult specimens from various habitats in Hormozgan province. Five species were collected and identified of which Pseudohormius turkmenus Tobias & Alexeev, 1973 is newly recorded from Iran. The subfamily Hormiinae is reviewed and a key is provided for identification of Iranian species.

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A faunistic survey was conducted in Ardabil province (North-western Iran), during spring 2013 to study the ichneumonids (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) associated with grasslands in this area. Samplings were carried out by the sweeping net in natural grasslands, neighboring fields and orchards. A total of twelve ichneumonid species belonging to nine genera and five subfamilies were collected and identified. The species were identified as follow: Collyria coxator (Villers, 1789), Diadromus collaris (Gravenhorst, 1829), Diplazon laetatorius (Fabricius, 1781), Diplazon pectoratorius (Gravenhorst, 1829), Homotropus crassicornis (Thomson, 1890), Homotropus elegans (Gravenhorst, 1829), Homotropus signatus (Gravenhorst, 1829), Lysibia nana (Gravenhorst, 1829), Orthocentrus castellanus (Ceballos, 1963), Picrostigeus setiger (Brischke, 1871), Promethes sulcator (Gravenhorst, 1829) and Syrphophilus bizonarius (Gravenhorst, 1829). Homotropus crassicornis is newly recorded for the fauna of Iran. An identification key to the known species of the genus Homotropus Foerster, 1869 from Iran is presented.

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The fauna of the subfamily Diplazontinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) in the north central parts of Iran was studied during 2010-2011. A total of 933 specimens were collected in 30 localities at different altitudes using Malaise traps. Sixteen species belonging to 7 genera were identified of which twelve species indicated by asterisk, are new records for Iran: Diplazon annulatus (Gravenhorst)*, Diplazon laetatorius (Fabricius),D. pectoratorius (Gravenhorst)*, D. tibiatorius (Thunberg)*, Enizemum ornatum (Gravenhorst), Homotropus nigritarsus (Gravenhorst)*, Homotropus pictus (Gravenhorst)*, Promethes sulcator (Gravenhorst), Sussaba flavipes (Lucas)*, Sussaba pulchella (Holmgren)*, Syrphoctonus tarsatorius (Panzer)*, Syrphophilus bizonarius (Gravenhorst)*, Tymmophorus obscuripes (Holmgren)*, Woldstedtius biguttatus (Gravenhorst), Woldstedtius citropectoralis (Schmiedeknecht)* and Xestopelta gracilima (Schmiedeknekht)*. Detailed morphological characters and a key to the genera and species are provided. Flight periods and distribution in relation to altitude on two slopes of the Alborz mountains are discussed.

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Sooty molds are a group of fungi with dark-coloured hyphae, which grow saprophytically on various living plant organs and sometimes on non-living substrates and produce brown to black superficial colonies, black pellicles or pseudoparenchymatous crust. In north of Iran including Guilan and Mazandaran provinces, sooty molds are common on living leaves of a great variety of plants especially Citrus spp. There are a few sporadic reports of sooty mold fungi from Iran in the literature. In continuation of an earlier investigation, sooty molds from different citrus species collected from western parts of Mazandaran province and specimens obtained from fungal collection at University of Guilan were studied. As a result, five mitosporic species viz., Chaetasbolisia falcata, Cylindroxyphium virginianum, Fumiglobus citrinus, Fumiglobus foedus and Polychaeton tenellum, and one ascomyceteous species Phaeosaccardinula epicarpa, were identified as causal agents of sooty mold on citrus plants in this region. According to the literature, all of the above mentioned taxa are new to Iran mycobiota.

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So far, three aphid species including Aphis fabae Scopoli, 1763, Brachycaudus cardui (Linnaeus, 1758) and Paczoskia meridionalis Holman, 1981 are reported on Echinops in Iran. In this study, two more aphid species were collected on Echinops in Iran: Myzus persicae(Sulzer, 1776) and Turanoleucon jashenkoiKadyrbekov, 2002.The little-known aphid genus Turanoleucon and the species T. jashenkoiare reported here for the first time from Iran. The biometric data of apterous and alate viviparous females of Iranian population of T. jashenkoiare given from specimens collected from Fars province, Iran. The morphological differences between Iranian population and the original description of the species, i.e. Kazakhstan population, are discussed. An identification key to the apterous viviparous female aphids living on Echinops in Iran is provided.

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Iranian species of the leafhopper genus Neoaliturus Distant, 1918 (N. alboflavovittatus (Lindberg), N. decemocellatus (Dlabola); N. dubiosus (Matsumura), N. fenestratus (Herrich-Schäffer), N. guttulatus (Kirschbaum), N. haematoceps (Mulsant and Rey), N. opacipennis (Lethierry), N. pulcher (Haupt); N. tenellus (Baker)) are reviewed. Detailed morphological descriptions and illustrations and a key for their identification are provided.

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In this study, two aphid species i.e. Macrosiphoniella vallesiacae Jörg & Lample, 1988 on Artemisia aucheri and A. sieberi and Uroleucon pilosellae (Börner, 1933) (Hem.: Aphididae) on Scorzonera sp. were collected which are reported here for the first time from Iran. The biometric data of the Iranian populations of these two aphid species are given. An identification key to the apterous viviparous female aphids of the genus Macrosiphoniella living on Artemisia in Iran is provided.

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In a taxonomic study of the subfamily Phasiinae (Diptera: Tachinidae), seven species and the three genera Opesia Robineau-Desvoidy, Subclytia Pandellé and Xysta Meigen are recorded for the first time from Iran. The diagnostic characters, distributional data along with the photographs of species are presented. Taxonomical positions of the genera and species are discussed.

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A survey was conducted to identify the parasitic wasps of the subfamily Campoleginae (Hym.: Ichneumonidae) in Fars province (southern Iran) during February 2011 – August 2013. Specimens were collected using Malaise traps and sweeping nets. Two new record species of the genus Cymodusa (Ichneumonidae, Campopleginae) were identified: C. longiterebra Dbar, 1985 and C. australis (Smits van Burgst, 1913). An identification key, morphological diagnosis and geographical distribution of Iranian Cymodusa are provided.

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The males of the three species of bumblebees, Bombus (Thoracobombus) ruderarius (Müller), B. (T.) persicus Radoszkowskiand B. (T.) mesomelas Gerstaecker collected from Vikan village, Qazvin province and their male labial gland secretions were analyzed by gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and components of their extracts were identified. The major compounds were a complex mixture of alkenols, alkenals, fatty acids, hydrocarbons, wax type esters and steroids. The main component of male labial gland secretions of B. ruderarius, B. persicus and B. mesomelas were determined to be 9-hexadecenol (42.1%), Z-13-octadecen-1-yl acetate (81.8%) andZ-12-pentacosene (34.4%), respectively. Results showed that if detection of species in male bumblebees would be difficult by using morphologic characters, then identification could be confirmed by detecting main component of male labial gland of these bees.

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The Iranian fauna of Eudorylini (Diptera, Pipunculidae) is reviewed. The new material were collected in Western (Kermanshah) and Eastern (North Khorasan, Khorasan-e Razavi, South Khorasan, Sistan-o Baluchestan) provinces during 2015–2016. In total, twenty species of Eudorylini belonging to four genera known from Iran are listed. Four species, Claraeola conjuncta (Collin, 1949), Clistoabdominalis nitidifrons (Becker, 1900), Dasydorylas discoidalis (Becker, 1897) and Eudorylas jenkinsoni Coe, 1966 are newly recorded from Iran. A brief diagnosis is presented for the newly recorded species.

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This paper reports some species of Ameroseiidae from various habitats in different parts of Iran. Ameroseius bassolase (Vargass, 2001)has been reported from Iran, but it was a misidentification of Sertitympanum aegyptiacus Nasr & Abow-Awad, 1984. Redescription of Ameroseius lidiae Bregetova, 1977 based on female specimens is also presented.