Contributions to the taxonomy, identification, and biogeography of Palaearctic Campopleginae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), with the description of a new Porizon Falln species from Iran.

New species and new records of Palaearctic Campopleginae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) are reported in this paper: Porizon dahaka Vas, sp. nov. is described from Iran, with a complementary modification to the identification key of the genus; seven Western Palaearctic species, namely Bathyplectes rufigaster Horstmann, Casinaria paramorionella Riedel, Diadegma mediterraneum (Constantineanu), Diadegma neomajale Horstmann, Diadegma tamariscator (Aubert), Eriborus obscuripes Horstmann, and Hyposoter fitchii (Bridgman) are reported for the first time from the Eastern Palaearctic region (Iran); four species already known from the Eastern Palaearctic region, namely Diadegma aculeatum (Bridgman), Diadegma elegans Dbar, Dusona stragifex (Frster), and Meloboris pektusana Vas, are reported for the first time from Iran, the latter with the complementary description of the hitherto unknown male. Additionally, further data are provided on the distribution of Lemophagus eburnipes Vas, a species recently described from Iran.

Suitability of monotypic and mixed diets for development, population growth and predation capacity of Typhlodromus bagdasarjani (Acari: Phytoseiidae).

We quantified the life table parameters and predation capacity of a generalist predatory mite, Typhlodromus bagdasarjani Wainstein and Arutunjan on five monotypic diets, including Tetranychus urticae Koch (TSSM) eggs in the presence (SW) and absence (SN) of webs, Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (GHWF) eggs (G), honeydew (H), and maize pollen (M) as well as three mixed diets, including SN + M, SN + G, and G + M. Our results showed that the individuals fed on the mixed diets had a considerably shorter developmental time and pre-oviposition period (APOP), higher oviposition days, higher fecundity and population growth rate than those raised on the monotypic diets. Furthermore, we found that the mixed diet of TSSM and GHWF eggs was the most favorable diet, resulted in the highest fecundity and population growth rate, shortest developmental time and APOP. While TSSM eggs alone in the presence of webs and honeydew were the worst diets resulted in the longest developmental time, lower oviposition day, higher fecundity and population growth rate. Our data determined that TSSM has more nutritional benefits than GHWF for T. bagdasarjani. We observed the positive effects of pollen addition to prey on the predatory mite's immature and adult life-history characters; however, it reduced the predation rate. Overall, maize pollen could enhance ecosystem services provided against spider mites and whiteflies by positively impacting the increase of T. bagdasarjani population. This predator may be more effective when two prey species are available than when only one species is present.

Monitoring of Mutual Interference Behavior of Trichogramma brassicae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) over 45 Generations of Rearing on Angoumois Grain Moth.

Trichogramma brassicae (Bezdenko) is one of the most common species of natural enemies used in augmentative biological control programs in many countries. Understanding of the foraging behavior of a parasitoid can help us to improve its performance under field conditions. This study is the first assessment of trends in mutual interference behavior of T. brassicae under long-term mass rearing (over 45 generations) on a common factitious host, Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier). Our results revealed that the total parasitism rate of T. brassicae reared on S. cerealella eggs was significantly affected by parasitoid densities and number of generations under continuous rearing. Also, parasitoid density and number of generations in rearing had significant effects on the per capita parasitism rate. Meanwhile, per capita searching efficiencies were different in sequential generations and at different densities. The number of hosts parasitized per parasitoid decreased on day 1 of the experiment with increasing parasitoid density, showing the effect of mutual interference. The linear regression between the natural logarithm of per capita searching efficiency and the natural logarithm of parasitoid density showed an inverse relationship. While the m (interference coefficient) values increased, the Q (quest constant) values had a decreasing trend over 45 generations. The highest (- 0.167) and lowest (- 0.242) values of m were observed in G45 and G5, respectively. Accordingly, G5 and G45 had the highest (0.053) and lowest (0.023) Q values, respectively. Thus, it seems the negative effects of mutual interference decreased over generations.

Wolbachia promotes successful sex with siblings in the parasitoid Habrobracon hebetor.

BACKGROUND: Wolbachia are intracellular α-proteobacteria that have a wide distribution among various arthropods and nematodes. They affect the host reproduction favoring their maternal transmission, which sets up a potential conflict in inbreeding situations when the host avoids sexual reproduction preventing inbreeding depression, while Wolbachia pushes it. We used the wasp Habrobracon hebetor to test the hypothesis that Wolbachia modulates inbreeding avoidance behavior and promotes sib mating. RESULTS: Our results showed no obvious pre-copulatory inbreeding avoidance in this wasp. However, H. hebetor showed a strong post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance behavior that resulted in a low fertilization rate of uninfected siblings and therefore high rate of production of male progeny was obtained. We observed higher rates of fertilization success in the Wolbachia-infected lines that resulted in significantly higher female progeny production compared to the uninfected sib mates. Since diploid females are the result of successful fertilization due to haplodiploidy sex determination system in this insect, our results indicate that Wolbachia promoted fertile sib mating in H. hebetor. Interestingly, the rate of adult emergence in the progeny of Wolbachia-infected sib mates were almost similar to the non-sib mate crosses and significantly more than those observed in the uninfected sib mate crosses. CONCLUSION: Our results support the idea that Wolbachia modulates inbreeding avoidance and promotes sib mating and also mitigates inbreeding depression. By promoting successful sex with siblings and increasing the probability of female progeny, Wolbachia enhances its transmission to the next generation. This is an undescribed effect of Wolbachia on the host reproduction. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Contribution to the Ophioninae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) of Iran with the description of 16 new species and an illustrated key to the Eremotylus of the Western Palaearctic.

In this study, material of Iranian Ophioninae was examined. In total, 63 species are recognized as occurring in Iran. Sixteen species are described as new to science: Enicospilus amerii Johansson sp. nov., E. apocalypticus Johansson sp. nov., E. haladai Johansson sp. nov., Enicospilus peri sp. nov., Ophion al Johansson sp. nov., Ophion angustigena Johansson sp. nov., Ophion breviflagellator Johansson sp. nov., Ophion golestanicus Johansson sp. nov., Ophion klimenkoi Johansson sp. nov., Ophion persicus Johansson sp. nov., Ophion schmidti Johansson sp. nov., Ophion sinuosus Johansson sp. nov., Ophion sistanicus Johansson sp. nov., Ophion transcarinatus Johansson sp. nov., Ophion vasi Johansson sp. nov. and Ophion xrafstra Johansson sp. nov. Sixteen species: Enicospilus combustus (Gravenhorst, 1829); E. intermedius (Johansson, 2018); E. undulatus (Gravenhorst, 1829); Ophion angularis Johansson Cederberg, 2019; Ophion bipictor Aubert, 1980; Ophion crassicornis Brock, 1982; Ophion confusus Johansson, 2019; Ophion ellenae Johansson, 2019; Ophion eremita Kokujev, 1906; Ophion kallanderi Johansson, 2019; Ophion rostralis Meyer, 1935; Ophion rufoniger Kohl, 1905; Ophion semipullatus Kokujev, 1909; Ophion tenuicornis Johansson, 2019; Hellwigiella dichromoptera (Costa, 1886) and Eremotylus curvinervis (Kriechbaumer, 1878) are new records for the fauna of Iran. Enicospilus flavocephalus (Kirby, 1900), Enicospilus monostigma (Vollenhoven, 1879) and Eremotylus sibiricus Szpligeti, 1905 are excluded from the Iranian checklist due to previous misidentifications. Enicospilus tarsalis Hedwig, 1957 syn. nov. is excluded from synonymy with E. ahngeri and instead introduced as a junior synonym of E. cruciator Viktorov, 1957. Enicospilus affinis Hedwig, 1957 stat. rev. is excluded from synonymy with E. ocellatus Shestakov, 1926 and reinstated as a valid species. Enicospilus splendidus Rousse, Soliman Gadallah, 2017 syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Enicospilus stenopsis Kohl, 1905. Enicospilus grandiflavus Townes Townes, 1973 (= E. grandis Morley) syn. nov. is synonymized with Enicospilus unicallosus (Vollenhoven, 1878). Enicospilus contributus Shestakov, 1926 is confirmed as a junior synonym of E. merdarius (Gravenhorst, 1829). Ophion fossulatus Hedwig, 1957 stat. rev. is excluded from synonymy with Ophion mocsaryi Brauns, 1899 and reinstated as a valid species close to Ophion parvulus Kriechbaumer. Ophion mocsaryi var. decedens Hedwig, 1961 syn. nov. is a synonym of Ophion bipictor Aubert, 1980. Ophion obscuratus var. heratensis Hedwig, 1961 syn. nov. is treated as a synonym of Ophion turcomanicus Szpligeti, 1905. Ophion pravinervis Kokujev, 1906, previously only known from the lost type collected in Georgia, is redescribed. Despite the relatively high number of new species here presented, the Iranian fauna most likely still harbours additional species awaiting discovery.

First record of Oscheius myriophilus () (Rhabditida: Rhabditidae) from Iran; and its efficacy against two economic forest trees pests, Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and Hyphantria cunea () (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) in laboratory condition.

The box tree moth (BTM), Cydalima perspectalis and the fall webworm (FWW), Hyphantria cunea are two invasive pests of forest trees that have been recorded from Hyracinan forests in north Iran for the first time in 2016 and 2002, respectively. In a search for tentative native entomopathogenic nematode species (EPNs) with potential biocontrol ability against lepidopteran pests of forest trees in north Iran, Oscheius myriophilus was isolated by soil-baiting method from forests of Amlash in the east of Gilan province. The Iranian isolate of this species is characterized by 870-1,247 µm long hermaphrodites having 17-20 µm long stoma, vulva at 45.5-53.1% of body length, tail 90-126 µm long, common males with 38-49 µm long spicules and 583-791 µm long dauer larvae. Compared to the type and other populations, no remarkable differences were observed for this population. The phylogenetic affinities of this isolate with other rhabditid nematodes were studied using partial sequences of small, and the D2-D3 expansion segments of the large subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU and D2-D3 LSU rDNA). This is the first record of the species from Iran. The pathogenicity of Iranian isolate of O. myriophilus was evaluated on the larvae of two important aforementioned forest trees pests, BTM and FWW under laboratory conditions. The results indicated that the suspension of 500 infective juveniles per ml (IJs/ml) of the nematode was the most effective treatment on fifth instar larvae of BTM and FWW, causing 100 and 95% mortality after 48 h, respectively. The lethal concentration 50 (LC50) values of the nematode were 74.5, 152.7, 99.9, and 197.3 IJs/ml on fifth and fourth instar larvae of BTM, and fifth and fourth instar larvae of FWW, respectively, after 48 h at 25°C and 60% relative humidity. Together, present results corroborated the efficacy of the Iranian isolate of Oscheius myriophilus for biocontrolling of BTM and FWW in laboratory conditions.

New data on the subfamily Opiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Iran.

Specimens of the Opiinae subfamily (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) were collected using Malaise traps during 2010-2011 in Northern Iran (Alborz, Guilan, Mazandaran, Qazvin and Tehran provinces). A total of 32 species belonging to 12 genera were identified, of which 11 species are new records for the fauna of Iran: Apodesmia posticatae (Fischer, 1957), Apodesmia striatula (Fischer, 1957), Biosteres (Chilotrichia) advectus Papp, 1979, Bitomus (Bitomus) multipilis Fischer, 1990, Desmiostoma parvulum (Wesmael, 1835), Opius (Misophthora) rufimixtus Fischer, 1958, Opius (Opiothorax) phytobiae Fischer, 1959, Opius (Misophthora) mischa Fischer, 1968, Opius (Opiothorax) attributus Fischer, 1962, Phaedrotoma pseudonitida (Fahringer, 1943) and Utetes curtipectus (Fischer, 1958). In addition, 21 species are new provincial records. Local and global distributions of all 32 species as well as diagnostic characters of each of the newly recorded species are provided.

Quality control of the parasitoid wasp Trichogramma brassicae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) over 45 generations of rearing on Sitotroga cerealella.

Trichogramma brassicae (Bezdenko) is an important biological control agent that has been used widely against many lepidopteran pests. Commonly, colonies of Trichogramma are mass reared on factitious hosts such as Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) over many generations. In this study, we evaluated the quality and performance of a colony of T. brassicae that had been reared for over 45 generations (G) using two-sex life table parameters and parasitism capacity. We found that female adult longevity was significantly different among sequential generations, ranging from 5.58 ± 2.5 d (at G5) to 3.75 ± 1.42 d (at G45). However, no significant difference was found in male adult longevity among different generations. Although female wasps survived longer until the 15th generation, they allocated more days for egg laying at G5 and G10. The highest values of gross reproductive rate (GRR), net reproductive rate (R0 ), intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ) and mean generation time (T) were found in G5 and G10, which also showed significantly higher c0 . No significant difference in the finite parasitism rate (ω) was found among generations up to G15. These results suggest that T. brassicae wasps held under continuous laboratory rearing can be used successfully in biological control programs until the 15th generation without any loss of quality or performance. However, laboratory mass rearing colonies declined in quality after 15 generations and we suggest that they should be rejuvenated regularly by adding field-collected parasitoids periodically.

Study of the genus Bracon Fabricius, 1804 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Iran: new subspecies, new records and an updated checklist.

The present study is based on the genus Bracon Fabricius collected from the Khuzestan province in the southwestern part of Iran during 2016-2017. In total, 35 species including one subspecies were collected and identified, of which 10 species are recorded for the first time from Iran and Bracon (Osculobracon) pelliger rumezensis Samartsev Zargar ssp. n. is described. In addition, 24 species are recorded for the first time from Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran. Brief diagnoses with illustrations for new records from Iran and a faunistic list with distribution data are provided.

Age stage, two-sex life table of Habrobracon hebetor (Braconidae) on Spodoptera exigua (Noctuidae) reared on different sugar beet genotypes.

The present study was carried out to unveil interactive relevance among consecutive and alternate members of a tritrophic system comprised of sugar beet genotypes, beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner), and its parasitoid, Habrobracon hebetor (Say) using demographic parameters. To do so, H. hebetor was reared on S. exigua fed on 10 sugar beet genotypes, including SB26; SB27; SB29; SB33; SB34; (7112*SB36)*Sh-1-HSF-5; FC220; FC301; SBSI006; and HM 1339RZ in a growth chamber at 25 ± 1 °C, 60 ± 5% RH, and 16:8 (L: D) h photoperiod. The data was analyzed based on the age-stage, two-sex life table theory. Our results revealed high variation in duration of different life stages of H. hebetor on S. exigua reared on different sugar beet genotypes examined. The shortest (10.605 days) and longest (13.721 days) pre-adult period of H. hebetor was on S. exigua reared on SB26 and SB34, respectively. The longest (17.2 days) and shortest adult longevity (7.5 days) was on S. exigua reared on SB26 and SB27, respectively. The highest values of the intrinsic rate of increase (r) (0.209 day-1) and finite rate of increase (λ) (1.233 day-1) were observed on S. exigua reared on SB34 and their lowest values (0.159 and 1.172 day-1, respectively) were recorded on SB27. Resistant and susceptible genotypes to S. exigua, FC301 and (7112*SB36)*Sh-1-HSF-5, respectively, were only genotypes on which H. hebetor had greater and approximately equal r compared with S. exigua. This finding indicates high capability of H. hebetor to be successfully employed against S. exigua on sugar beet genotypes which are extremely different in resistance to this pest.

Coinfection of the secondary symbionts, Hamiltonella defensa and Arsenophonus sp. contribute to the performance of the major aphid pest, Aphis gossypii (Hemiptera: Aphididae).

Bacterial endosymbionts play important roles in ecological traits of aphids. In this study, we characterize the bacterial endosymbionts of A. gossypii collected in Karaj, Iran and their role in the performance of the aphid. Our results indicated that beside Buchnera aphidicola, A. gossypii, also harbors both Hamiltonella defensa and Arsenophonus sp. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) results revealed that the populations of the endosymbionts increased throughout nymphal development up to adult emergence; thereafter, populations of Buchnera and Arsenophonus were diminished while the density of H. defensa constantly increased. Buchnera reduction caused prolonged development and no progeny production. Furthermore, secondary symbiont reduction led to reduction of the total life span and intrinsic rate of natural increase as well as appearance of the deformed dead offspring in comparison with the control insects. Reduction of the secondary symbionts did not affect parasitism rate of the aphid by the parasitic wasp Aphidius matricariae. Together these findings showed that H. defensa and Arsenophonus contributed to the fitness of A. gossypii by enhancing its performance, but not through parasitoid resistance.

A review of the Iranian species of genus Iconella Mason (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae) with description of two new species.

The present study was carried out in the Khuzestan province of Iran during 2016-2017. In total, five species of the genus Iconella were collected and identified, of which two new species are described and illustrated: Iconella mongashtensis Zargar Gupta sp. nov., and I. similus Zargar Gupta sp. nov. One species, Iconella meruloides (Nixon 1965), is recorded for the first time from Iran and two species, Iconella myeloenta and I. subcamilla, are new provincial records. The number of Iconella species in Iran is now raised to eight. An identification key to all Iranian species of the genus Iconella is provided.

The microRNA pathway is involved in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells antiviral immune defense against Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus infection.

The microRNA (miRNA) pathway is an epigenetic mechanism that plays important roles in various biological processes including host-virus interactions by regulating gene expression of the host and/or the virus. Previously, we showed that the cellular microRNAome in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells is modulated following Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) infection suggesting that miRNAs may contribute in the cellular antiviral immunity. Here, we investigated the role of core components of the miRNA pathway in Sf9-AcMNPV interaction. Gene expression analyses showed that the expression levels of Dicer-1 (Dcr1), Argonaute-1 (Ago1) and Exportin-5 (Exp5) increased following AcMNPV infection particularly at 16 h post infection (hpi). Ran expression levels, however, decreased in response to virus infection. The expression levels of cellular miRNAs, miR-184 and let-7, also diminished at the post infection times further confirming differential expression of the cellular miRNAs following AcMNPV infection. To determine the role of the miRNA pathway in the interaction, we silenced key genes in the pathway using specific dsRNAs. RNAi of Dcr1, Ago1 and Ran enhanced viral DNA replication and reduced the abundance of miR-184 and let-7 underscoring the importance of the miRNA pathway in antiviral immunity in Sf9 cells. Suppression of the miRNA pathway in mock and infected cells had no effect on Ran expression levels suggesting miRNA-independent downregulation of this gene after virus infection. In conclusion, our results suggest the antiviral role of the miRNA pathway in Sf9 cells against AcMNPV. To modulate this immune response, AcMNPV represses host miRNAs likely through downregulation of Ran to enhance its replication in the host cells.

Wolbachia induce cytoplasmic incompatibility and affect mate preference in Habrobracon hebetor to increase the chance of its transmission to the next generation.

Wolbachia are common intracellular bacteria that are generally found in arthropods, including a high proportion of insects and also some nematodes. This intracellular symbiont can affect sex ratio with a variety of reproductive anomalies in the host, including cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) in haplodiploids. In this study, we questioned if the parasitoid wasp, Habrobracon hebetor (Hym.: Braconidae), an important biological control agent of many lepidopteran larvae, is infected with Wolbachia. To test this, DNA was extracted from adult insects and subjected to PCR using specific primers to Wolbachia target genes. The results showed a high rate of Wolbachia infection in this parasitoid wasp. To determine the biological function of Wolbachia in H. hebetor, we removed this bacterium from the wasps using antibiotic treatment (cured wasps). Results of crossing experiments revealed that Wolbachia induced CI in H. hebetor in which cured females crossed with infected males produced only males, while both male and female progeny were observed for other crosses. Also, we showed that the presence of Wolbachia in females increased fecundity and female offspring of this parasitoid wasp. The presence of Wolbachia in the males had no significant effect on fecundity and female production, but might have incurred costs. We also investigated the effect of Wolbachia on mate choice and found that Wolbachia affects mating behavior of H. hebetor. Together, we showed that Wolbachia induces CI in H. hebetor and affects host mating behavior in favor of its transmission. Wolbachia utilize these strategies to increase the frequency of infected females in the host population.

Three new species of the genus Choeras Mason, 1981 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Microgastrinae) from Iran.

The genus Choeras Mason, 1981 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Microgastrinae) in northern Iran is studied taxonomically. Specimens were collected using Malaise traps during 2010 and 2011. A total of five species were identified, three being new species which are described and illustrated: Choeras formosus Abdoli Fernandez-Triana sp. nov., C. fulviventris Fernandez-Triana Abdoli sp. nov. and C. qazviniensis Fernandez-Triana Talebi sp. nov. Two species (i.e., C. taftanensis and C. tiro) are new provincial records. The number of Choeras species in Iran is now raised to seven. An identification key to all West Palaearctic species of Choeras is provided.

Small interfering RNA pathway contributes to antiviral immunity in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells following Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus infection.

Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) is a well-known virus in the Baculoviridae family. Presence of the p35 gene in the AcMNPV genome as a suppressor of the short interfering RNA (siRNA) pathway is a strong reason for the importance of the siRNA pathway in the host cellular defense. Given that, here we explored the roles of Dicer-2 (Dcr2) and Argonaute 2 (Ago2) genes, key factors in the siRNA pathway in response to AcMNPV infection in Spodoptera frugiperda Sf9 cells. The results showed that the transcript levels of Dcr2 and Ago2 increased in response to AcMNPV infection particularly over 16 h post infection suggesting induction of the siRNA pathway. Reductions in the expression levels of Dcr2 and Ago2 by using specific dsRNAs in Sf9 cells modestly enhanced production of viral genomic DNA which indicated their role in the host antiviral defense. Using deep sequencing, our previous study showed a large number of small reads (siRNAs of ∼20 nucleotides) from AcMNPV-infected Sf9 cells that were mapped to some of the viral genes (hot spots). Down-regulation of Dcr2 in Sf9 cells resulted in enhanced expression levels of the selected virus hotspot genes (i.e. ORF-9 and ORF-148), while the transcript levels of virus cold spots (i.e. ORF-18 and ORF-25) with no or few siRNAs mapped to them did not change. Overexpression of AcMNPV p35 as a suppressor of RNAi and anti-apoptosis gene in Sf9 cells increased virus replication. Also, replication of mutant AcMNPV lacking the p35 gene was significantly increased in Sf9 cells with reduced transcript levels of Dcr2 and Ago2, highlighting the antiviral role of the siRNA pathway in Sf9 cells. Together, our results demonstrate that Dcr2 and Ago2 genes contribute in efficient antiviral response of Sf9 cells towards AcMNPV, and in turn, the AcMNPV p35 suppresses the siRNA pathway, besides being an antiapoptotic protein.

Diapause Induced by Temperature and Photoperiod Affects Fatty Acid Compositions and Cold Tolerance of Phthorimaea Operculella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae).

To find out the potential condition for diapause induction in the potato tuber moth Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), combination of constant temperatures (15, 20, and 30°C) and photoperiods (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, and 16 h) were employed from egg to adult emergence. In addition, changes in the total phospholipid fatty acid content and cold tolerance of non-diapausing and diapausing pupae were examined. The critical daylength for diapause induction were 12.43 h at 20°C and lower temperatures that can induce in 50% of population. Moreover, the composition of total phospholipid fatty acids in the pupae revealed seven major fatty acids in both non-diapausing and diapausing pupae: oleic (26-32%), palmitic (21-29%), linoleic (18-21%), palmitoleic (4-10%), stearic (9%), linolenic (7-8%), and pentadecanoic acids (3-5%) with an increase in proportion of unsaturated fatty acids in diapause state. In contrast to increase of oleic acid (C18:1) from 26 to 32% in non-diapausing to diapausing pupae, a decrement trend from 29 to 21% in palmitic acid (C16:0) was observed at the same state. Additionally, supercooling point was observed to be significantly lower in diapausing (-22.6°C) than in non-diapausing pupae (-18.5°C) and the fresh weight of diapausing pupae was found to be significantly higher than non-diapausing ones. The significance of these findings would allow us a better understanding of interrelationship between diapause and cold tolerance.

Attempt to Develop Cost-Effective Rearing of Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae): Assessment of Different Artificial Diets.

Commercial production of Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot based on storage mites needs both space and labor to maintain large cultures of these prey, and also may lead to health problems for workers. Therefore, the accessibility of a suitable artificial diet could eliminate the mentioned problems; however, the artificial diets must support the persistent production of high quality progeny. This study endeavored to find a more easily available and cheaper nutrient that may further reduce the cost of diet production for A. swirskii. The predator's performance was determined when it was fed on a basic artificial diet (AD1) composed of honey, sucrose, tryptone, yeast extract, and hen egg yolk, and on eight other artificial diets consisting of 80% AD1 enriched with different nutrients including maize pollen (AD2), hemolymph of Plusia gamma L. (AD3), Ephestia eggs (AD4), Artemis cysts (AD5), Ephestia last-instar larvae (AD6), multivitamin syrup (AD7), bovine serum albumin (AD8), and bull sperm (AD9). The lowest development time was on AD2. The highest value of fecundity and oviposition period were observed on AD5, followed by AD2 and AD4. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) and the finite rate of increase (λ) reached the maximal value on AD5. Feeding on AD2 and AD5 resulted in highest value of R0 (net reproductive rate). Our results indicated that Artemia cysts and maize pollen had better potential to be used as nutrient in artificial diet for mass production of A. swirskii. Overall, it seems that AD2 is the most cost effective than others.

Eight new species of Dolichopodinae (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) from northern Iran.

Dipterological surveys were conducted in different sites in western and central parts of northern Iran (Guilan, Mazandaran, Kordestan, East and West Azerbaijan and Ardabil provinces) during 2010-2011 using Malaise traps, and during 2012-2014 employing sweep nets. A total of 110 species were collected, including 42 Dolichopodinae. Eleven dolichopodine species proved new to science, eight of which are described here: Dolichopus fuscicercus sp. nov., D. subimmaculatus sp. nov., Gymnopternus flavitibia sp. nov., G. atratus sp. nov., Hercostomus setitibia sp. nov., H. albicoxa sp. nov., Poecilobothrus annulitarsis sp. nov. and P. innotabilis sp. nov. Some of these species strongly resemble European species and even share near identical conspicuous male secondary sexual characters.

Quantitative Analysis of Long-Term Mass Rearing of Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on Almond Pollen.

Long-term feeding effects of the almond pollen on the life table parameters of Neoseiulus californicus McGregor were assessed after 5, 10, and 20 generations after introduction in the rearing arena. Furthermore, to evaluate behavioral characteristics of the mass-reared predator (strain A) in face with the real prey, functional and numerical responses of the predator to different densities of the twospotted spider mite nymphs were determined, and the obtained data were compared with those reared on twospotted spider mite (strain T). Long-term rearing did not significantly affect total fecundity of N. californicus (ranged from 37.79 to 41.91 eggs). Nevertheless, preadult duration in the 5th generation was significantly longer than the 10th and 20th generations. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) in the 10th (0.2056 d-1) and 20th (0.2201 d-1) generations had not significant difference together. However, the r value slightly dropped in the 5th generation (0.1706 d-1) because of the irregular offering of fresh pollen to the rearing colonies before that. Both strains of N. californicus exhibited a type II functional response; however, the N. californicus reared on the almond pollen (strain A) had a higher attack rate (a) and shorter handling time (Th). The individuals reared on the almond pollen had a greater size than those reared on twospotted spider mite; its higher predation potential is probably due to this characteristic. Consequently, the rearing of N. californicus on the almond pollen positively affected its attributes including high survivorship, body size, and fecundity, and subsequently higher potential to control twospotted spider mite.