Additions to the knowledge of the fauna of the tribe Cryptini Kirby, 1837 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Cryptinae) of Iran.

Using Malaise traps, sweep nets and yellow pan traps during 20132015 in various localities of Iran, 18 species belonging to 11 genera in the tribe Cryptini Kirby, 1837 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Cryptinae) were collected. Among them, five species including Aritranis longicauda (Kriechbaumer, 1873), Gambrus ornatus (Gravenhorst, 1829), Mesostenus dentifer (Thomson, 1896), Mesostenus kozlovi Kokujev, 1909 and Stenarella domator (Poda, 1761) are new records for the fauna of Iran. Sixty other species previously recorded from Iran are considered credible, bringing the number of known Iranian Cryptini to 65 species.

A new species of Pristomerus Curtis, 1836 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Cremastinae) and key to the known species in Iran.

Pristomerus mirzakhaniae Zardouei Rakhshani sp. nov., (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Cremastinae) is described based on a specimen discovered in the Eastern part of Iran. A key to the known species of the genus Pristomerus Curtis, 1836 in Iran and a distribution map of the Iranian species based on published data are provided.

A taxonomic review of the genus Diolcogaster Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) in Iran, distribution and morphological variability.

The four species of the genus Diolcogaster Ashmead, 1900, present in Iran are reviewed. Field sampling was done during 2010 to 2016 in eastern and southeastern parts of Iran by various methods. The identity and morphological variability of D. alvearia (Fabricius), D. claritibia (Papp), D. mayae (Shestakov) and D. spreta (Marshall) were compared with other Palaearctic material. Three species, D. claritibia, D. mayae and D. alvearia, are illustrated and redescribed and the intraspecific variation of D. mayae is presented for the first time. Examination of the additional specimens revealed eleven new records: D. alvearia (Croatia), D. claritibia (Tunisia and Ukraine), D. mayae (Algeria, Israel, Russia and Yemen) and D. spreta (Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany and Spain). A key to the species found in Iran, as well as information about their distribution, are also provided.

A study of the Iranian species of Choeras Mason (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae), with the description of a new species.

Sampling surveys were conducted in various regions of SE to West of Iran to collect the Microgastrinae specimens during 2013-2016. Reliable diagnostic morphological characters were used for comparing and identification of variable specimens. Four species of Choeras Mason, 1981 (Braconidae: Microgastrinae) from Iran are revised; three are illustrated, of which one is described as new species from SE and W Iran: C. taftanensis Ghafouri Moghaddam van Achterberg sp. n. Occurrence of C. dorsalis in Egypt, Jordan and Malta, C. tedellae in Bulgaria and C. tiro in Israel and Spain are also first recorded.

An Upgrade Pinning Block: A Mechanical Practical Aid for Fast Labelling of the Insect Specimens.

A new mechanical innovation is described to deal with standard labelling of dried specimens on triangular cards and/or pinned specimens in personal and public collections. It works quickly, precisely, and easily and is very useful for maintaining label uniformity in collections. The tools accurately sets the position of labels in the shortest possible time. This tools has advantages including rapid processing, cost effectiveness, light weight, and high accuracy, compared to conventional methods. It is fully customisable, compact, and does not require specialist equipment to assemble. Conventional methods generally require locating holes on the pinning block surface when labelling with a resulting risk to damage of the specimens. Insects of different orders can be labelled by this simple and effective tool.

Discovery of the genus Claraeola Aczél in Iran with the description of two new species (Diptera: Pipunculidae).

The genus Claraeola Aczél is recorded from Iran for the first time. Two new species, Claraeola parnianae Motamedinia & Kehlmaier sp. nov. and Claraeola khorshidae Motamedinia & Kehlmaier sp. nov., are described and illustrated. An updated identification key to the Western Palaearctic species of the genus Claraeola is provided. Both species were characterized morphologically and by DNA barcoding of the mitochondrial COI gene.