Continuous mass rearing of Trichogramma brassicae (Bezdenko) at commercial mass-rearing insectaries may affect both quality and performance of natural enemies. In the present study, we studied the quality and performance of a colony of T. brassicae reared for over 45 generations (G) on Ephestia kuehniella Zeller using two-sex life table parameters and parasitism capacity. Our results revealed that although different generations showed no significant difference in terms of female longevity or total life span until G35, G5 and G10 had the highest values of fecundity, gross reproductive rate (GRR), net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic rate of natural increase (r), and finite rate of increase (λ). No significant difference in male adult longe

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),

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 a

The cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (H?bner), is a destructive pest feeding on a diverse array of host plants. We studied the demographic parameters of H. armigera on artificial diets prepared from seeds of 10 corn Zea mays L. hybrids (KSC301, KSC403, KSC540, KSC600, KSC604, KSC704, KSC711, Maxima, NS770, and ZP677) using the agestage, two-sex life table procedure. The results revealed that except for the incubation period, the Z. mays hybrids-mediated artificial diets significantly affected the length of the other immature stages. They also influenced the adult longevity, adult pre-oviposition period (APOP), total pre-oviposition period (TPOP), and oviposition days of H. armigera. Furthermore, the total fecundity of H. armigera was a

The present study is based on the material collected from East Azerbaijan province (Northwestern Iran) between July-August 2019. The specimens were collected using Malaise traps from a variety of habitats. Lycorina triangulifera Holmgren, 1859 were collected and identified. This species is the first record of the subfamily Lycorininae Cushman and Rohwer, 1920 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) in Iran. Morphological descriptions, as well as detailed illustrations of this species, are presented.

The specimens were collected from northern Iran using the sweeping net and Malaise traps during 2010-2019. A total of 25 species were identified, of which four species are recorded for the first time from Iran: Choerades femorata

The genus Microplitis F?rster, 1862 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) was studied from northern Iran. Specimens were collected using Malaise traps during 2010–2011. A total of 13 species were collected and identified, of which six species are recorded for the first time from Iran: M. cebes Nixon, 1970, M. docilis Nixon, 1970, M. eremitus Reinhard, 1880, M. kaszabi Papp, 1980, M. pallidipennis Tobias, 1964 and M. varipes (Ruthe, 1860). Two species M. kaszabi and M. pallidipennis are new records for the west Palaearctic region. A new species, Microplitis alborziensis Abdoli & Talebi sp. nov., is described and illustrated. The number of species of Microplitis in Iran is now raised from 17 to 24. A faunistic list, an identification ke