A new Orthosia species, O. habelerisp. nov., is described from Iran (Kerman, SE Zagros Mts), and compared with the allopatric, closely related species, O. manfredi Hreblay, 1994. The subgenus Orthosia and its three main lineages are characterised; the primary types of the taxa described by Staudinger and Hreblay & Plante are illustrated; the photographs of the male genitalia of the holotypes of O. manfredi Hreblay, 1994, O. ariuna Hreblay, 1991, O. faqiri Hreblay & Plante, 1994 and O. feda Hreblay & Plante, 1994, and the lectotype of O. incerta var. pallida Staudinger, 1888 are illustrated for the first time.
Some demographic parameters of the indigenous parasitoid, Aphidius matricariae Haliday (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitizing the greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), were estimated at 3 different temperatures (20, 25, and 30 ± 1 °C; 70 ± 5% RH; 16 L:8D). According to age-specific theory, the demographic parameters of the parasitoid were computed by related formulas. The results showed that duration of mummy’s formation to adult emergence and oviposition to adult emergence were significantly prolonged at 30 °C. The high temperature (30 °C) markedly shortened the longevity and lifespan of the wasp. The lowest value of fecundity (6.35 ± 0.85) significantly occurred when the female wasps were exposed to 30 °C. The estimated values of rm were remarkably high when the female wasps were exposed to 20 (0.320 ± 0.011) and 25 °C (0.310 ± 0.009). The lowest and highest values of the R0 significantly occurred at 30 (6.167 ± 0.754) and 20 °C (55.306 ± 6.316). The λ, T, DT, and rw values were noticeably decreased at high temperature, and there was non-significant difference between the two other temperatures. High temperature decreased the number of females produced per female per day (mx) and survival rate (lx) of the parasitoid wasp. The highest mx and lx happened at 20 and 25 °C, respectively. Therefore, the results showed that the parasitoid wasp was sensitive to the high temperature, as its low reproduction, survival, and short adult longevity were recorded. Considering the characteristics, the wasp appeared to be well-adapt with the temperatures below 30 °C. Understanding the optimal temperatures for the life history traits of A. matricariae could promote the performance of the parasitoid wasp in different climatic regions, and this might advance the mass production of the parasitoid applied in IPM program for successful biological control of S. graminum.
Achaemenothrombium dariusi Saboori, Wohltmann & Hakimitabar sp. nov. (Acari, Prostigmata: Trombidioidea) is described and illustrated from larvae ectoparasitic on Euxoa fallax (Eversmann) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) from Sirch and Cheshmeh Bondar, Kerman province, Iran. It is the third species of this genus, which is recorded only from Iran. The status of this small family is discussed and a key to species of Achaemenothrombium (larvae) is presented.
A list of 358 noctuid species with Iranian type locality, is proposed belonging to 21 subfamilies. Moreover, the original combination, citation of the original description and synonymy of each species are presented. Xyleninae, Noctuinae and Hadeninae subfamilies constitute the greatest part of the Iranian fauna. The highest numbers of species of these three subfamilies have been recorded from the provinces located in the Zagros and Elburz mountain ranges, by 95 (26.5%), 81 (22.7%) and 46 (12.9%) species, respectively. The genus Hadena Schrank 1802, represented by 29 species and subspecies, composes the highest number of taxa in the list. The map indicates the locations of the country and its main mountain chains.
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