First report of scaly cricket Arachnocephalus vestidos Costa, 1855 (Orth., Mogoplistidae) from Iran

Abstract

Mid of September 2022, near sandy bank of Neka River in the north of Iran, a cricket was collected on prickly lettuce bushes (Lactuca serriola L.) amongst wild bushes of rubus (Lactuca serriola L.) and trees of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.). Identification through morphological taxonomic keys and comparison with previously named specimens in the Hayk Mirzayans Insect Museum (HMIM) confirmed a new record. This is first report of the genus and species of cricket Arachnocephalus vestidos Costa, 1855 from Iran. This insect has been reported from west to southwest Palearctic so far. The specimen is deposited in HMIM at the Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection (IRIPP). The detailed morphological characteristics of the family, genus and species, as well as a key to identify the genera and species of scaly crickets in Iran provided. So far, three species of three genera belonging to the Mogoplistidae are reported from Iran.