A revision of the genus Isotomurus (Collembola: Isotomidae) in northern Iran using molecular evidence.

Three new species of Isotomurus Börner are described from northern Iran. Status of studied populations is confirmed as new species by using COI and 28SrRNA markers. The new species belong to species-group characterized by 3,3,1 trichobothria on Abd. II-IV, 3+3 laterodistal setae on ventral tube, and no seta on mucro. Isotomurus hyrcanicus sp. nov. is similar to I. palustris Müller in color pattern, but has two lateral bands on last abdominal segments and 10-13 setae on retinaculum. Results of COI analyses shows that all color forms in population of the new species are conspecific. Isotomurus potapovi sp. nov. has a dorsomedial band from Th. II to Abd. V and 6-7 setae on retinaculm, and Isotomurus katule sp. nov. has a uniform body color and 5-8 setae on retinaculum. An identification key for recorded species of genus Isotomurus in Iran is provided. Color pattern as a common character used to identify Isotomurus species is not always reliable and its efficiency needs to be verified for each species.

Review of the Iranian Parholaspidid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) with a key to the species.

Six species of Parholaspidid mites were collected from Guilan province in Northern Iran. Gamasholaspis browningi (Bregetova Koroleva, 1960) is a new record for the Iranian Parholaspidid mite fauna. This paper provides a checklist for Parholaspidid mites species recorded from Iran, with a key for identification of the species.

Changes in immune responses, gene expression, and life table parameters of Helicoverpa armigera Hübner fed on a diet containing the saponin of tea plant, Camellia sinensis.

Saponins cause mortality in insects by reducing food absorption and movement in the gut, which may be used to exploit the control of insect pests. In the current study, tea seed saponin (TSS) was extracted and then added to the artificial diets of Helicoverpa armigera. Pre-ovipositional period of the TSS-treated individuals increased while longevity and fecundity decreased compared to control. There was a significant reduction of the treated individuals in the life table parameters of TSS-treated Individuals including net reproduction rate (R0 ), intrinsic rate of population increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), and gross reproduction rate (GRR). Also, we found that saponin suppressed the immune system by reducing the total hemocyte count, immune-related gene expression, and phenoloxidase activity. Our results demonstrated a lower expression of cecropin gene in the treated larvae with TSS while no significant differences were observed in attacin gene. Our results clearly showed that feeding of H. armigera larvae in the diet containing TSS significantly reduced demographic parameters, forced insects to obtain more time to complete one generation, and caused vulnerabilities against pathogens. These discrepancies alleviated nutrient uptake of the larvae and disrupted their feeding and growth. Hence, a proper formulation with a desirable concentration would be prepared and applied in the fields suffering H. armigera damage to monitor insecticidal efficiency of TSS.

Vertagopus (Collembola, Isotomidae) of Iran and Caucasus.

The materials on the genus Vertagopus Börner from the Caucasus and Iran are revised. Two new species, V. persicus sp. nov. and V. nunataki sp. nov., are described and fauna of the genus in the Western Asia is commented.

Alterations in some physiological processes of Bactrocera oleae Rossi (Diptera: Tephritidae) following pyridalyl treatment.

Pyridalyl is one of the recently discovered insecticides which has shown toxicity against several insect pests with slight- or non-lethal effects against natural enemies. Cytotoxicity and prevention of protein synthesis have been reported as pyridalyl mode of action. In the current study, adults of Bacterocera oleae, as a major pest of olive, were fed on protein hydrolysate diet containing LC50 concentration of pyridalyl to determine the possible mode of action through gene expression and amino acid profile. Results showed that treated flies had significantly higher gene expressions of cytochrome P450, insulin receptor-like, antioxidant enzymes (catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase) and the enzymes involved in cell death; caspase1, caspase3, caspase8 and caspase9 compared to control. Moreover, determination of amino acid profile in the whole body of both control and pyridalyl-treated B. oleae revealed the significant higher amounts of glutamic acid, glutamine, histidine, threonine, citrulin, arginine, taurine, alanine, tyrosine, α-amino butric acid, methionine and isoleucine in the treated adults while the control flies had the higher amounts of serine, glycine and tryptophane. No significant differences were found in the amounts of asparagine and phenylalanine between control and treatments. These results are in accordance with earlier findings on mode of action of pyridalyl through activation of cytochrome P450 system and alterations in protein synthesis machinery although here other mechanisms were also reported including activation of insulin receptor and antioxidant enzymes. Moreover, it is the first report on cytotoxicity through apoptosis with engagement of caspases.

Changes in immune responses of Helicoverpa armigera Hübner followed by feeding on Knotgrass, Polygonum persicaria agglutinin.

There is no study implying the effect of plant lectins on insect immune elements in both challenged and non-challenged conditions with entomopathogenic agents. Lectins may bind to immune receptors on the surface of insect hemocytes, thus inducing or even disabling common immune functions including hemocyte counts, nodulation/encapsulation, phenoloxidase activity, and synthesis of antimicrobial peptides. In the present study, effect of Polygonum persicaria L. agglutinin (PPA) on immune responses of Helicoverpa armigera Hübner was investigated by feeding artificial diet treated to the larvae. Subsequently hemocyte count and expression of some immune-related genes were considered for analyses. The two groups of larvae including control and PPA-treated (1%) were divided into four subgroups of intact, Tween-80 injected, latex-bead injected and Beauveria bassiana-injected. Except for intact larvae, the highest numbers of total and differential hemocyte counts were recorded 12 hr postinjection, however, the PPA-fed larvae showed a significantly lower hemocyte counts compared to control. The number of nodules in PPA-fed larvae was significantly lower than control, but the injected larvae of both control and PPA showed the highest nodulation 24 hr postinjection. Although the highest activity of phenoloxidase was observed 12 and 24 hr postinjection but its activity significantly decreased in PPA-fed larvae compared to control. Gene expression of antimicrobial peptides including attacin, cecropin, and peptidoglycan receptor proteins were significantly decreased in artificial diet-fed larvae containing PPA and then injected by B. bassiana spores and latex bead compared to control. These results clearly indicate adverse effects of PPA on immune responses in H. armigera.

Effect of Polygonum persicaria (Polygonales: Polygonaceae) Extracted Agglutinin on Life Table and Antioxidant Responses in Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Larvae.

Plant lectins could reduce insect populations by imposing imbalances in biology and physiology. Here, an agglutinin was extracted from Polygonum persicaria L. (PPA; Polygonales: Polygonaceae) and its effects were investigated on life table parameters and antioxidant system of Helicoverpa armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). PPA significantly changed demographic parameters showing adverse effects on age-stage survival rate (Sxj), age-specific survival rate (lx), age-specific fecundity rate (mx), age stage specific fecundity (fxj), and life expectancy (exj). Also, life table parameters including net reproduction rate (R0) (Offspring/female), intrinsic rate of population increase (rm) (days-1), finite rate of increase (λ) (days-1), gross reproduction rate (GRR) (Offspring/female) significantly decreased in the PPA-treated H. armigera compared to control except for mean generation time (T) (days). Activities of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CA), peroxidase (POX), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) increased statistically in the PPA-treated larvae compared to control while no significant difference was observed in the activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APOX) activity. Moreover, ratio of RSSR/RSH and concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) were found to be statistically higher in PPA-treated larvae than control. The current results clearly showed that PPA not only had a negative impact on demography of H. armigera but also induced antioxidant raise by releasing free radicals. These released radicals, together with impaired digestion and absorption observed in our previous report, could be considered as a reason for reducing biological fitness of H. armigera.

Two new species of Cosmolaelaps Berlese (Acari:Laelapidae) from Iran .

This paper reports on two species of mites of the genus Cosmolaelaps Berlese, 1903 in Iran--C. dorfakiensis sp. nov., and C. pinnatus sp. nov., extracted from soil and leaf litter samples in Guilan Province, Northern Iran. A key to the species of Cosmolaelaps occurring in the Iran is also provided.

Two new species and one new record of larvae of the family Johnstonianidae (Acari: Prostigmata) from Iran with a key to species of the genus Diplothrombium.

Diplothrombium sahragardi sp. nov. and Diplothrombium ostovani sp. nov. (Acari: Johnstonianidae) collected from soil samples (off host) in a forest near Asalem city (Iran) are described. Another species of this family Johnstoniana parva Wendt, Wohltmann, Eggers and Otto, 1994 is reported for the first time from Iran. A larva-based key to Diplothrombium is provided.