The stinging Apidae and Vespidae (Hymenoptera: Apocrita) in Iranian islands, Qeshm, Abu-Musa, Great Tunb and Lesser Tunb on the Persian Gulf

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the stinging flying Hymenoptera (Apidae and Vespidae) fauna in four Iranian Islands, Qeshm, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu-Musa on the Persian Gulf.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The flies were captured by used of Malaise trap, fly trap, bottle trap and insect net-hashing from March 2011 to July 2012.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In this study, 11 species of stinging Hymenoptera were reported for the first time in Persian Gulf region.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Some of this species such as Vespa orientalis and Polistes olivaceus are more common in the Persian Gulf islands and can cause clinical problem to islands resident and travelers.</p>