Contribution to the knowledge of Carabidae in Iran with the descriptions of five new taxa, proposing of four synonyms and providing of nine new records (Insecta: Coleoptera).

A contribution to the knowledge of the ground beetles in Iran is given. The ground beetle diversity in Iran is rich, with 1135 known species and subspecies in total so far, and 20% percent of them are endemic. However, the Iranian fauna is still not well known. In this paper, five new taxa of ground beetles are described: Leistus (Pogonophorus) spinibarbis zagrosensis ssp. n., Trechus kouroshi sp. n., Atranus dariushi sp. n. from Zagros, and Philorhizus flavocorpus sp. n. and Philorhizus kermanus sp. n. from Kerman; four new synonyms are established: Poecilus (Ancholeus) aeneolus (Chaudoir, 1868) syn. n. and Poecilus (Ancholeus) hafezi (Morvan, 1975) syn. n. = Poecilus (Ancholeus) puncticollis (Dejean, 1828); Poecilus (Ancholeus) iranicus (Morvan, 1974) syn. n. = Poecilus (Derus) advena (Quensel, 1806), and Olegius turkmenicus Komarov, 1996 syn. n. = Pogonopsis pallida Bedel, 1898; and the first records of nine species for Iran are provided: Porotachys ottomanus ssp. ottomanus Schweiger, 1968, Tachyura (Tachyura) shahinei (Schatzmayr Koch, 1934), Tachyura (Tachyura) conspicua (Schaum, 1863), Polyderis algiricus (Lucas, 1846), Polyderis impressipennis (Motschulsky, 1860), Pogonopsis pallida Bedel, 1898, Chlaenius (Trichochlaenius) albissoni Reitter, 1908, Philorhizus crucifer ssp. crucifer (Lucas, 1846), and Demetrias monostigma Samouelle, 1819.

Reproduction of Limnatis paluda (Tennent 1859) in laboratory conditions.

The reproductive functions of Limnatis paluda were studied in laboratory conditions including imposing of two thermal conditions (T1: 18 ± 2 °C and T2: 26 ± 2 °C) and with there being placement of three bedding substrates (tile, moss, and stone) in the containers specimens were confined. Furthermore, values for reproductive variables of cocoons and hatchlings were recorded. With the T2 treatment, gravid adults had cocoon depositions, whereas those when there was imposing of the T1 treatment did not have cocoon depositions. There was cocoon deposition only on the moss bedding, and it is presumed that moss could provide a robust and stable nursing microenvironment for developing embryos. Frequency (%) of cocoon depositions did not vary during the months of the deposition period. Hatching occurred after 26 ± 2 days when there was imposing of the T2 treatment. There was no correlation between the values for size of the ovigerous cocoons and number of offspring. There was a negative correlation between number and mean weight of hatchlings. There was a difference in cocoon weight for the different months and fluctuation in mortality and hatching rate which is assumed to be related to differences in feeding behaviors.

Global genetic diversity, lineage distribution, and Wolbachia infection of the alfalfa weevil Hypera postica (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

The alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica) is a well-known example of a worldwide-distributed pest with high genetic variation. Based on the mitochondrial genes, the alfalfa weevil clusters into two main mitochondrial lineages. However, there is no clear picture of the global diversity and distribution of these lineages; neither the drivers of its diversification are known. However, it appears likely that historic demographic events including founder effects played a role. In addition, Wolbachia, a widespread intracellular parasite/symbiont, likely played an important role in the evolution of the species. Wolbachia infection so far was only detected in the Western lineage of H. postica with no information on the infecting strain, its frequency, and its consequences on the genetic diversity of the host. We here used a combination of mitochondrial and nuclear sequences of the host and sequence information on Wolbachia to document the distribution of strains and the degree of infection. The Eastern lineage has a higher genetic diversity and is found in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and eastern America, whereas the less diverse Western lineage is found in Central Europe and the western America. Both lineages are infected with the same common strain of Wolbachia belonging to Supergroup B. Based on neutrality tests, selection tests, and the current distribution and diversification of Wolbachia in H. postica, we suggested the Wolbachia infection did not shape genetic diversity of the host. The introduced populations in the United States are generally genetically less diverse, which is in line with founder effects.

Multigene phylogeny reveals a new Iranian earthworm genus (Lumbricidae: Philomontanus) with three new species.

Lumbricidae taxonomy is vastly restricted by the morphological simplicity of earthworms and their lack of complex appendices. This has led to confusing results in the Lumbricidae classifications, which in turn, has hindered our ability to identify and assign new and cryptic species to the family. Here we propose the addition of a new Lumbricidae genus from the Zagros and Elburz Mountains of Iran, i.e. Philomontanus gen. nov, including three new species. Our taxonomic inferences were based on the phylogenetic analysis of two nuclear gene regions (28S rDNA and 18S rDNA) and 11 mitochondrial gene regions (16S rDNA, 12S rDNA, NADH dehydrogenase I, cytochrome oxidase subunits I and II and tRNAs Asn, Asp, Val, Leu, Ala and Ser). Philomontanus gen. nov comprises the earthworm species Philomontanus sarii sp. nov., Philomontanus mahmoudi sp. nov. and Philomontanus baloutchi sp. nov. These three species are morphologically similar to each other with only a few characters separating them (e.g. size, pigmentation and position of clitellum). Our findings support the adoption of an integrative approach including molecular information (e.g., DNA sequences) to aid earthworm classification and develop a robust taxonomy.

The spider genus Pterotricha in Iran, with the description of a new genus (Araneae, Gnaphosidae).

The spider genus Pterotricha Kulczynski, 1903 (Gnaphosidae) is surveyed in Iran. To date, three species of this genus were known in the country: P.loeffleri (Roewer, 1955), P.lentiginosa (C. L. Koch, 1837) and P.pseudoparasyriaca Nuruyeva & Huseynov, 2016. Here two new species are described, P.kovblyuki Zamani & Marusik, sp. n. (♂, western Iran) and P.montana Zamani & Marusik, sp. n. (♀, central and southwestern Iran), and P.cf.dalmasi Fage, 1929 (from Algeria to Jordan) is reported in Iran for the first time. Pterotrichatikaderi Gajbe, 1983 syn. n. (India) and P.loeffleri (Roewer, 1955), syn. n. are synonymized with P.strandi Spassky, 1936 (hitherto known from Turkmenistan only). The record of P.lentiginosa from Iran is apparently based on misidentification. A distribution map of the genus in Iran with new provincial records is provided. In addition, Iranotricha Zamani & Marusik, gen. n., a new genus closely related to Pterotricha, is described from southeastern Iran with the type species I.lutensis Zamani & Marusik, sp. n.

Olfactory response of Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to untreated and Beauveria bassiana-treated Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae).

Determination of attraction and avoidance behavior of predators is important in concomitant use of multiple natural enemies to control a pest. The olfactory response of the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis was studied to odors related to Tetranychus urticae adults infected by Beauveria bassiana DEBI008 in 0, 24, 48 and 72 h intervals, both in absence and in presence of plants. In plant-present experiments, P. persimilis attraction was neither towards adults of T. urticae infected by 0.02 % Tween 80 (as control), nor to the ones infected by B. bassiana for 0 or 24 h, whereas significant attraction towards the control was observed when tested against T. urticae infected by B. bassiana for 48 or 72 h. In absence of plants, P. persimilis displayed significant avoidance of T. urticae infected by B. bassiana for 48 or 72 h, when their alternative option was 0.02 % Tween 80-infected T. urticae adults. These results indicate that P. persimilis can recognize the presence of B. bassiana and that the predator avoids the fungus. This suggests that the two natural enemy species can be used together in biological control programmes.