Faunestic study of ants with emphasis on the health risk of stinging ants in Qeshm Island, Iran

Qeshm [26.75N, 55.82E], Iran, is 1500 km[2] island in the Strait of Hormuz. Qeshm is a free trade zone, acting as an important channel for international commerce, and has been the site of much recent development. There is potential risk of stinging ant attacks for residents and visitors that may occur in the island. The aims of this study were to find out the fauna, dispersion, and some of the biological features of ant species with special attention to those, which can play role on the public health of the island. In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed ants around the island using non-attractive pitfall traps and active collection to evaluate potential threats to humans and other species during 2006-2007. All collected specimens were identified using the morphological ant keys. Only six ant species were found: Pachycondyla sennaarensis [41%], Polyrhachis lacteipennis [23%], Camponotus fellah [16%], Cataglyphis niger [9%], Tapinoma simrothi [7%], and Messor galla [4%]. We were surprised not to find any cosmopolitan tramp ants so often associated with commerce and development. Instead, all six species may be native to the Middle Eastern region. The most common species, P. sennaarensis, has a powerful sting and appears to do well around human habitations. This species may prove to be a serious pest on the island

Applying Morphometric Variation of Seta 2 [Antepalmate hair] among the Larvae of the members of the maculipennis subgroup [Diptera: Culicidae] in Iran

The members of Anopheles maculipennis subgroup [Diptera: Culicidae] are the most important vectors of malaria in the north, west, and central plateau of Iran. This study was carried out to differentiate the species composition of this subgroup based on morphometric variation seta 2-IV and V [antepalmate hair] among 149 larval specimens that were deposited at the Medical Arthropods Museum, the School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences by using the light microscope. The mean numbers of larval seta 2-IV and V of the specimens belong to different locations of Iran, were calculated by SPSS [11.5] software package, followed by cluster analysis, and four different groups [clusters] were identified. The means were compared with the similar and available published data. After analyzing, four clusters recognized. The first cluster was fitted in ten localities in Esfahan, East Azarbaijan, West Azarbaijan, Khorassan, Kurdistan, and Mazandaran Provinces with its mean and standard deviation [SD] of 14.89 +/- 1.13 [n= 79]; the second group with one location in Gilan Province [11 +/- 1.58, no= 5]; the third one with two locations in Pars and Western Azarbaijan Provinces [27.43 +/- 0.31, n=20], and the final group with four locations in Khuzestan, West Azarbaijan, and Qazvin Provinces [36.84 +/- 1.91, n= 45] were identified and corresponded to Anopheles messeae, An. atroparvus, An. melanoon, and An. sacharovi respectively. This work provides comparative information on the Maculipennis Subgroup based on morphometric examination at the larval stage in Iran