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An extensive literature review was performed to determine the list of stored product beetles reported from Iran. A total of 122 species of stored product beetles belonging to 59 genera and 45 tribes have been recorded in Iran. Species–richest families are Dermestidae (24 species) and Tenebrionidae (24 species), followed by Chrysomelidae (15 species), Cryptophagidae (13 species), Ptinidae (10  species), Curculionidae  (6 species), Staphylinidae (4 species), Nitidulidae (4 species), Bostrichidae (3 species), Laemophloeidae (3 species), Silvanidae (3 species), Trogossitidae (2 species), Anthicidae (2 species), Cleridae (2 species) and seven families are monospecific: Carabidae, Cerambycidae, Anthribidae, Erotylidae, Latridiidae, Melyridae and Mycetophagidae. The present study is not only a faunistic report but also help in design and development of integrated pest management of stored product beetles.

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The dynamics and complexity of plant communities influence the diversity and distribution of animals in various environments. Coleoptera are the most diverse group of insects and are valued as monitoring and environmental assessment tools. However, their diversity and dynamics in these high-altitude environments are poorly known. Using pitfall traps and suction sampling, we collected beetles to study their community responses to changes in different vegetation heterogeneities (low, intermediate, and high). The heterogeneity gradient was determined by considering the dominant plant species in each habitat, the percentage of vegetation coverage, and the percentage of vertical strata. Guild's responses to vegetation heterogeneity were analysed in conjunction with the patterns of alpha and beta diversity in beetles. Representatives of 41 species/morphospecies of beetles, 16 families, and four guilds were reported. Significant variations were observed in guild composition and alpha and beta diversity, especially between high and low vegetation heterogeneity habitats. The significant species turnover between sites is the main factor responsible for the high beta diversity, supporting considerable habitat heterogeneity within these environments. Phytophagous, detritivorous, necrophagous, and predatory beetles exhibited distinct responses to the vegetation's heterogeneity. This suggests that every habitat under investigation possesses a distinct structure of beetle communities. Predators were important in habitats with more diverse vegetation, while phytophagous were important in the most homogeneous ones. Beetle communities in the Puna and Altos Andes of Salta province respond positively to vegetation heterogeneity, which plays a crucial role in determining the composition of small-scale beetle communities in arid high-altitude environments.

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Isolates were identified by molecular and morphological tests, including coleopteran-specific cry genes in the Iranian native Bacillus thuringiensis collection. Spherical and irregular shapes were observed to be the most frequent shapes using Coomassie brilliant blue staining. PCR analysis with universal and specific primer pairs was used to detect coleopteran-specific cry genes such as cry1I, cry3, cry7, cry18, and cry26. All the isolates contained at least one active coleopteran-cry gene, while the most abundant isolates had cry26 and cry18 genes. The patterns of protein size were characterized in addition to their insecticidal activity against third-instar larvae of Tribolium castaneum. Protein profiles produced bands that varied from 14-180 kDa. Four native isolates containing coleopteran-active cry genes displayed higher activity against T. castaneum larvae than B. thuringiensis subspecies galleriae as a reference strain. The median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) of the most pathogenic isolate, PS1078, was 2.72 × 10⁶ spores/ml. Its 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis demonstrated similarity to B. thuringiensiss subspecies galleriae. The characterization of isolates provided useful data for selecting new isolates to expand novel bio-insecticidal products.