Description of Calling, Courtship and Mating Behaviour of Six Species of the Genus Zyginidia (Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae).

The vibrational communication and mating behaviour of the graminicolous leafhoppers Zyginidia pullula, Z. ribauti, Z. scutellaris, Z. serpentina, Z. sohrab, and Z. biroi were investigated to explain why the first five species hybridize. Z. biroi was used as a control species. All species behaved in the same way and no significant statistical differences were detected with regard to male calls, while female calls and the male courtship song differed in Z. biroi, thus showing that a specific pre-mating isolation mechanism was used by the latter species and the first five ones lacked such a mechanism. In addition, Z. sohrab is missing in Italy, while the other species live allopatrically in Italy, with the only exceptions being Z. serpentina and Z. biroi, which live in Sicily and are often found in sympatry, and Z. scutellaris and Z. biroi, which live in Sardinia. All these species can be distinguished by means of male genital appendages; however, Z. biroi is longer and has a different body colour. The existence of natural hybrids of Z. pullula, Z. ribauti, and Z. scutellaris in the Italian peninsula and their hybridization in the laboratory with Z. serpentina and Z. sohrab require the investigation of possible post-mating reproductive barriers before re-considering their systematic validity.

Leafhoppers of the tribe Adelungiini (Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae: Megophthalminae) in Iran.

The study is focused on the leafhopper tribe Adelungiini (Megophthalminae) of Iran and based on the specimens collected since 1970s to 2018 and deposited in the Hayk Mirzayans Insect Museum, Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Teheran (Iran) and in the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Science, Saint Petersburg (Russia). Achrus caligonicolus Dlabola, 1981 and Achrus taghizadehi Dlabola, 1981 are placed in synonymy under Achrus albicosta (Kusnezov, 1929) and Melicharella pascualis Dubovsky, 1968 is placed in synonymy under Melicharella basalis Dlabola, 1960. Five species: Dalus leopardinus (Haupt, 1917), Melicharella basalis Dlabola, 1960, Platyproctus agraphopteron Bergevin, 1932, P. omani (Kameswara Rao et Ramakrishnan, 1983), and Zubara lycii Al-ne'ami et Linnavuori, 1982 are recorded for the first time from Iran, representing three new generic records from the country. Male genitalia of D. leopardinus and Adelungia elegans Melichar, 1902 are illustrated here for the first time. A revised checklist of Adelungiini of Iran, with a key to species and maps of their distribution are provided.

Review of the genus Cavatorium Dlabola, 1980 (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Issidae), with description of a new species from Iran.

Examination of the materials on Cavatorium dumetorum (Dlabola, 1981), including the type specimens, revealed that Dlabola (1981) based his description of this species on mixed type series. C. dumetorum sensu stricto is clearly distinguished by male anal tube with latero-apical processes and ventral phallobase lobe narrowing apically. Another species, externally close to C. dumetorum, but well recognized by male anal tube without processes and ventral phallobase lobe not narrowing apically, is described as new basing on the paratypes of C. dumetorum and other material available. C. dumetorum is re-described and a key to species of the genus is provided.

On the genera Issidius Puton and Morsina Melichar (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Fulgoroidea: Nogodinidae: Epacriini).

Nogodinid genera Issidius Puton, 1898 and Morsina Melichar, 1902 are revised. Iranissus Dlabola, 1980 is placed in synonymy under Issidius Puton and Hadjia Dlabola, 1981, Philbyella China, 1938 and Rileyopsis Bergevin, 1917-under Morsina Melichar. Philbyella adeiba Badawy, El Hamouly et Sawaby, 2011 is placed in synonymy under Ph. elba Linnavuori, 1973. The lectotypes are designated for Issus rotundiceps Lethierry, 1887 and Morsina persica Melichar, 1902. The photos of type specimens of Morsina persica Melichar, 1902, Hadjia quadrifasciata Dlabola, 1981, and H. nerii Dlabola, 1981 are given.

Tribe Myrmeleontini (Neuroptera: Planipennia: Myrmeleontidae) in Iran.

During a study of the family Myrmeleontidae of Iran, specimens of the tribe Myrmeleontini, housed in Hayk Mirzayans Insect Museum were examined. Specimens of Euroleon nostras and Myrmeleon noacki were identified for the first time from Iran. An identification key, illustrations and distributional maps are presented for the Iranian species of Myrmeleontini.

An Identification key to the species of Auchenorrhyncha of Iranian fauna recorded as pests in orchards and a review on the pest status of the species.

An illustrated dichotomous identification key for a total of 54 Auchenorrhyncha species of Iran is presented. The studied species have been recorded as pests and vectors of diseases to fruit trees. Twenty nine records were contributed to Iranian orchards and 25 of which were from other parts of the world. Hence, the latter group can be considered as potential pests and vectors in Iran. Reviewing the published information on the former group suggests 12 species as pests (4, 2 and 6 species with significant, minor, and unknown recorded economic damage levels, respectively). The pest status of 14 recorded pest species were quite doubtful and 3 of them could not be present in Iran due to the lack of evidence or their limited distribution in other parts of the world. The 4 species which were recognized as well known and significantly important pests belonged to the families: Tropiduchidae (Ommatissus lybicus Bergevin, 1930), Cicadidae (Cicadatra alhageos (Kolenati, 1857)), and Cicadellidae (Hishimonus phycitis (Distant, 1908) and Neoaliturus haematoceps (Mulstant et Rey, 1855)). One species Orosanga japonicus is recording for the first time from Iran and added to the key.

Nomenclatural changes in the higher classification of the family Tettigometridae (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea) with description of a new tribe and new species and a review of the Iranian tettigometrid fauna.

The first part of this paper provides a historical review of the classification of the family Tettigometridae, including the description of a new tribe, Plesiometrini trib. nov. to accommodate three Afrotropical genera of the subfamily Tettigometrinae. The name Nototettigometra Muir 1924, is proposed to replace Hilda Kirkaldy 1900, homonym of Hilda Hörnes Auinger 1884, and corresponding new combinations are given, including Nototettigometrinae nom. subst. to replace Hildinae Fennah 1952. An identification key to suprageneric taxa of Tettigometridae including both male and female characters is provided. In the second part, 18 tettigometrid species are recorded from Iran. A new species, Tettigometra (Tettigometra) parihana sp. nov. is described. Tettigometra (Metroplaca) longicornis and Tettigometra (Tettigometra) impressifrons are reported as new records for the Iranian fauna. An identification key and distribution maps are provided for the Iran fauna.

A checklist of the leafhoppers of Iran (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae).

A list of Cicadellidae (leafhoppers) of Iran is provided based primarily on literature records from 1902 to the present. In total 390 species are recorded from 13 subfamilies. Ninety three of the recorded species are considered to be endemic to Iran. The current accepted name is given for each species together with synonyms and literature citations relating to Iran. Selenocephalus darei is recognized as a published misspelling for Selenocephalus dareicus Dlabola, 1981. There is no evidence that the Nearctic species Empoasca fabae (Harris, 1841) and Erythroneura comes (Say, 1825) have been found in Iran; previous records appear to have been based on misidentifications. A brief distribution of species within Iran is provided.

The aphrophorid spittlebugs of Iran (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea: Aphrophoridae).

An annotated list of Aphrophoridae of Iran is provided, based on examination of specimens housed in the Hayk Mirzayans Insect Museum (Iran) and the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff (UK) and on previously published records. Ten species are now recorded from Iran. An identification key to the genera and species is provided, with illustrations and together with distributions. The subgenus Philaenus (Gyrurus) Tischechkin 2013 is recognized as a junior synonym of Mesoptyelus with Mesoptyelus iranicus (Tishechkin, 2013) as a new combination for Philaenus (Gyrurus) iranicus Tishechkin 2013. Paraphilaenus notatus (Mulsant & Rey, 1855) is recorded for the first time from Iran. Philaenus nebulosus Lethierry 1876 (currently Poophilus nebulosus (Lethierry, 1876)) is proposed to be a junior synonym of the widespread species Poophilus costalis (Walker, 1851).

A faunistic study on the leafhoppers of northwestern Iran (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae).

The leafhopper fauna of northwestern Iran: Azarbaijan-e-Sharghi, Azarbaijan-e-Gharbi and Ardabil provinces is listed from previously published records and from our current work. Sixty-nine species are included with four species (Mogangellastraminea Dlabola, 1957, Doraturastylata (Boheman, 1847), Macrostelessordidipennis (Stål, 1858) and Psammotettixseriphidii Emeljanov, 1962) listed as new for Iran and Balcluthapunctata (Fabricius, 1775), as a new record for the region. A distribution map of the species in northwestern Iran is given.

A preliminary study on the distribution patterns of endemic species of Fulgoromorpha (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha) in Iran.

Iran is known as the most complex and varied country in southwest Asia, in terms of geography, vegetation, climate and consequently biological diversity. The rather high number of recorded endemic species of Fulgoromorpha in Iran indicates a high potential for speciation in some areas. In this study, in order to identify the endemic zones for Fulgoromorpha of Iran, three main biogeographic regions of the country were divided into 13 primary zones, mainly according to the distribution of published and unpublished locality records of endemic species. Using Venn diagrams and cluster analyses on the primary zones, 6 final endemic zones were recognized: Caspian zone, southern slopes of Alborz, Zagros Mountains, Kerman Mountains, Khorasan Mountains, and Baluchestan and Persian Gulf coasts. Then a similarity map was produced for endemic zones using a Multidimensional analysis (Alscal) and the differences between the positions of the same zones in the similarity and geographic maps were discussed.

An annotated checklist of the planthoppers of Iran (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha, Fulgoromorpha) with distribution data.

A list of Hemiptera Fulgoromorpha (planthoppers) of Iran is provided, based primarily on literature records from 1902 to the present. In total 15 families and 235 species are recorded, with taxonomic details. Distribution data in Iran are given. Iranissus ephedrinus Dlabola, 1980 is transferred from Issidae to Nogodinidae. To resolve nomenclatural difficulty the following new combinations in Issidae are given: Iranodus dumetorus (Dlabola, 1981), Iranodus khatunus (Dlabola, 1981) and Iranodus repandus (Dlabola, 1981). Due to published generic synonomy the following are new combinations: Duilius seticulosus (Lethierry, 1874), Duilius tamaricis (Puton & Lethierry, 1887), Duilius tamaricicola (Dubovsky, 1966) and Duilius v-atrum (Dlabola, 1985).

Assessment of geographic and host-associated population variations of the carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae, on pomegranate, fig, pistachio and walnut, using AFLP markers.

The carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller 1839) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is the most important pest of pomegranate, Punica granatum L. (Myrtales: Ponicaceae), in Iran. In this study, 6 amplified fragment length polymorphism primer combinations were used to survey the genetic structure of the geographic and putative host-associated populations of this pest in Iran. An AMOVA was performed on test populations. Pairwise differences, Mantel test, multidimensional analysis, cluster analysis and migration rate were calculated for 5 geographic populations of E. ceratoniae sharing the same host, pomegranate. In another part of the study, 3 comparisons were performed on pairwise populations that were collected on different hosts (pomegranate, fig, pistachio and walnut) in same geographic regions. The results showed high within population variation (85.51% of total variation), however geographic populations differed significantly. The Mantel test did not show correlations between genetic and geographic distances. The probable factors that affect genetic distances are discussed. Multidimensional scaling analysis, migration rate and cluster analysis on geographic populations showed that the Arsanjan population was the most different from the others while the Saveh population was more similar to the Sabzevar population. The comparisons didn't show any host fidelity in test populations. It seems that the ability of E. ceratoniae to broaden its host range with no fidelity to hosts can decrease the efficiency of common control methods that are used on pomegranate. The results of this study suggest that in spite of the effects of geographic barriers, high within-population genetic variation, migration rate and gene flow can provide the opportunity for emerging new phenotypes or behaviors in pest populations, such as broadening host range, changing egg lying places, or changing over-wintering sites to adapt to difficult conditions such as those caused by intensive control methods.

Host plant-associated population variation in the carob moth Ectomyelois ceratoniae in Iran: A geometric morphometric analysis suggests a nutritional basis.

The carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller, 1839) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is the most important pest of pomegranate in Iran. As it has been rarely recorded on other host plants, control methods have mostly been focused on its populations on pomegranate. In this study, shapes and sizes of wings were compared in populations on 4 host plants (pomegranate, fig, pistachio and walnut) using a landmark-based geometric morphometric method, and analysis of partial warp scores and centroid sizes. The results showed significantly smaller wing size in populations on pomegranate and a significant host plant-associated shape difference among populations as a consequence of allometric growth. This suggests that the wing size and shape differences among test populations may not have a genetic basis and could happen because of differences in the nutritional content of host plants. The results of the analysis suggest that the female carob moth lays her eggs on host plants that provide suitable conditions for hatching. The larger size of moths on hosts other than pomegranate showed that some host plants such as fig, pistachio and walnut can provide for increased stored nutritional reserves by larvae that may result in more successful over-wintering and higher fecundity in adults. This suggests that in spite of the more extensive activity of carob moth on pomegranate in Iran, populations on other host plants can have an important effect on expanding pest population sizes in following years which should be considered in control methods.