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The chalcid wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) is one of the largest groups of wasps with tremendous morphological, ecological, biological, and taxonomic diversity whose economic importance is being pest natural enemies or plant pests. The unknown chalcid fauna of Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran generated the execution of a faunistic study to elucidate its chalcidoid biodiversity. The material was collected by sweeping and trapping during 2014-2015 from fields, ranges and grasslands. This contribution lists 56 species belonging to 35 genera and 11 families (Agaonidae, Aphelinidae, Chalcididae, Encyrtidae, Eulophidae, Eupelmidae, Eurytomidae, Mymaridae, Pteromalidae, Signiphoridae and Trichogrammatidae). Eupristina saundersi Grandi, 1916 (Agaonidae) and Dirhinus bakeri (Crawford, 1914) (Chalcididae) are new records for the fauna of Iran, while Euplectrus liparidis Ferrière, 1941 and Hemiptarsenus zilahisebessi Erdös, 1951 (Eulophidae), Eupelmus sp. (Eupelmidae) and Mymar taprobanicum (Ward, 1875) and Polynema sp. (Mymaridae) are new for the Khuzestan province fauna.

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This contribution reports 15 species of Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) belonging to 12 genera from Khuzestan province of Iran of which 11 species were determined to species level. Five genera and seven species are new for the fauna of Khuzestan province. Three genera viz. Apoleptomastix, Rhopus and Thomsonisca, and three species viz. Apoleptomastix bicoloricornis (Girault, 1915), Leptomastidea bifasciata (Mayr, 1876) and Rhopus nigroclavatus (Ashmead, 1902) are new for the Iranian fauna.

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This is a report of 11 species belonging to six genera of  Pteromalidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from Khuzestan province of Iran. Four genera and 10 species are new for the fauna of province of which one genus (Notoglyptus) and five species viz. Cyrtogaster britteni Askew, 1965, Halticoptera collaris (Walker, 1836), Notoglyptus scutellaris (Dodd & Girault, 1915), Pachyneuron tonyi Narendran & Santhosh, 2007 and Spalangia drosophilae Ashmead, 1887 are new for Iran.

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In this paper, we examine the effect of the energy difference between the L- and the -valleys in compound semiconductor materials, carrier effective mass, and the scattering processes on the electron transport characteristics in MESFETs. To do this, we use the Monte Carlo simulation to demonstrate the superiority of the InGaAs MESFET, made on a semi-insulating InP substrate, over both InP and GaAs MESFETs. Furthermore, we study the effects of device structure on the electron transport characteristics. For the first time we study electron transport characteristics in the channel of a LDD InGaAs MESFET with an InP source. This structure demonstrates to have the highest average electron velocity through out its channel among the other MESFETs

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During a faunistic study on the springtails (Collembola) of Khuzestan in south-western Iran, eight species including three Hypogastruridae, four Isotomidae and one Sminthuridae were collected and identified. Acherontiella and Acherontiella bougisi Cassagnau et Delamare Deboutteville, 1955 (Hypogastruridae), Ballistura tuberculata (Stach, 1947) (Isotomidae) and Sminthurus wahlgreni Stach, 1920 (Sminthuridae) are new for Iran while Hypogastrura manubrialis (Tullberg, 1869) (Hypogastruridae),  Isotomurus palustris (Müller, 1776) and Parisotoma notabilis (Schäffer, 1896) (Isotomidae) are new for Khuzestan fauna

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This paper presents new information on black fungus gnats (Sciaridae) based on field studies at seven localities in Iran. Five sciarid species from the genera Bradysia Winnertz, Corynoptera Winnertz and Lycoriella Frey were collected with Malaise traps, yellow sticky traps, sweep net and an aspirator between 2015 and 2021: Bradysia cellarum Frey, 1948; B. ocellaris (Comstock, 1882); B. tilicola (Loew, 1850); Corynoptera fatigans (Johannsen, 1912); Lycoriella sativae (Johannsen, 1912). All species are first records for the Sistan and Baluchestan province. Bradysia tilicola (Loew) is new to Iran and was recorded for the first time in the Middle East. This brings the number of known sciarid species from Iran to seven. For five species are given a short morphological diagnosis and the global distribution. A map illustrates the distribution of all identified sciarid species in Iran.

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Eleven species of Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera) belonging to Aphelinidae, Encyrtidae, Eriaporidae and Signiphoridae associated with the cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) were collected and identified during 2017-2018 from Khuzestan province in the southwestern Iran. Prochiloneurus rex (Girault) (Encyrtidae) is new record for the fauna of Iran. Meanwhile, biological associations of Bothriothorax serratellus (Dalman), Leptomastix dactylopii Howard and L. mayri Özdikmen (Encyrtidae) as parasitoids and Marietta picta (André), P. rex and Chartocerus kurdjumovi (Nikolskaya) (Signiphoridae) as hyperparasitoids of Ph. solenopsis were new.
 

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This study aimed to produce and characterize solid lipid nanoparticles containing the essential oil (SLN-EO) of Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam. The preparation was carried out using the high shear homogenization and ultrasound method. The biological activities of the prepared nanoformulation were evaluated against Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae under laboratory conditions. The particle size of SLN-EO was estimated to be under 150 nm (polydispersity index, PDI < 0.2) and zeta potential was negative. Morphology of nanoparticles was in globular form as demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy analysis. The loaded essential oil (EO) in SLN was calculated as 92% using the filtration-centrifugation method. The fumigant toxicity of EO as SLN formulation against E. kuehniella larvae was three times greater than that of pure EO. Similar results, but to a lesser extent, were obtained from comparing their contact toxicities. The fumigant durability of EO was enhanced by nanoformulation for up to two weeks. The nutritional indices of larvae, including relative growth rate (RGR), relative consumption rate (RCR), and feeding deterrence (FDI), were influenced considerably by SLN-EO compared to pure EO. The findings suggested the solid lipid nanoparticles as a suitable nanocarrier for EO in sustainable control management of Mediterranean flour moth.

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The common cutworm, Agrotis segetum, is a serious soil pest of many vegetable and field crops all over the world. Morphological identification of Agrotis species is predominantly performed on adults due to the deficiency of adequate identification keys for immature stages. In international trade, the immature life stages are frequently being intercepted at point of inspection, challenging the possibilities of morphological identification. To realize a rapid and reliable identification for all stages of A. segetum, a TaqMan real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was developed based on the mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) gene. All specimens of A. segetum (including various life stages) were detected and no cross-reactivity was observed with 5 non-target Agrotis species in the specificity tests. The tests showed to be repeatable, reproducible, and robust. The assay performed equally well with crushed insects and purified DNA, so, the efficiency was added by removing DNA extraction step. The method has proven to be suitable tools for routine identification of all life stages of A. segetum considering the speed, specificity, as well as sensitivity of the assay.

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The common pistachio psylla, Agonoscena pistaciae Burckhardt and Lauterer (Hem: Aphalaridae) is one of the main and most destructive pests of pistachio orchards in Iran. Chemical control is a widely applied method to manage this pest problem. The intensive use of insecticides has led to the development of resistant populations of the common pistachio psylla. In this research, the activities of detoxifying enzymes (general esterase, glutathione S-transferase and cytochrome P₄₅₀) were assessed against two populations of the common pistachio psylla, and the coccinellid predator, Oenopia conglobata L. (Col: Coccinellidae) in Kerman Province, under treatment of three rational insecticides, namely, acetamiprid, spirotetramat, and hexaflumuron in four concentrations (control, LC₂₅, LC₅₀ and LC₇₅). The results indicated that the activities of detoxifying enzymes were higher in the resistant population of psylla compared to the susceptible one. Esterase was the predominant detoxifying enzyme in the pest and its predator. Based on the results, the activity of detoxifying enzymes were higher at the higher concentrations of the pesticides. Esterase activity was greater in the psyllid populations than the coccinellid predator; which may indicate a higher sensitivity of the lady beetle to insecticides than its prey.