The fauna of cynipid oak gall wasps and their parasitoids in Lorestan province, Iran.

This study was carried out in the period 2003-2005 to collect and identify gall wasps and their parasitoids on oak species in Lorestan province. There are two oak species, Quercus brantii and Q. infectoria, with different dispersion patterns in the province. Thus, 3 study sampling sites were selected to cover distributional pattern of oak forests. Collected galls maintained in the laboratory condition. Based on results obtained, overall, 26 different galls-formed on various plant parts (catkins, buds, fruits, leaves) were collected on two oak species; of which, 11 gall wasps are active on Q. brantii and 13 gall wasps on Q. infectoria. 19 parasitoid wasps of 12 genera and 6 families belong to Chalcidoidea superfamily with various frequency and dispersal were collected from mentioned galls.

Olfactory response of the predatory bug, Orius albidipennis to volatile blends of strawberry and cucumber infested by spider mite.

Herbivore induced plant volatiles (HIPV) that cause by plant because of pest feeding can affect on the searching behavioral response of natural enemies. We investigated the response of generalist predator Orius albidipennis Reut (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) to volatiles from strawberry and cucumber leaves which infested with the spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) in Y-tube olfactometer under ambient laboratory conditions. Our results suggest that O. albidipennis is able to discriminate between volatiles emitted by infested plant versus uninfested plant and show the ability of predatory bugs to use odours related to prey presence to locate them.

Study of soybean leafhoppers fauna and an investigation on biology of dominant species Empoasca decipienspaoli in Karaj area.

The fauna of soybean leafhoppers and the biology of dominant species were investigated in Karaj during 1992-1994. For identification of species the male genitalia and other taxonomic characters were used. In order to find the duration and number of nymph stages, leaf cages were used on the plants. A thermograph was used to study the effect of temperature on nymphal stages in greenhouse. To study biology of E. decipiens in field four cages prepared and the trials has done inside them, and weekly all its life cycle observed. The following six species from four genera were identified: Empoasca decipiens Paoli, Macrosteles quadripunctulatus (KIrschbaum), M. laevis (Rib). Psammotettix alienus (Dahlbom), P. Striatus (Linne), Neoaliturus tenellus (Baker). Our investigations showed that Empoasca decipiens was the dominant species with the highest abundance. This specie is one of the important pests in many parts of Iran where oilseed crops are planted. The results showed that the soybean leafhopper over winters as adult under the debris of host plants and weeds. The first generation completes their life cycle on weeds before planting soybean. The second, third, and fourth generation lived on soybean. The time taken for the first, second, third, fourth and fifth nymphal stages were 6-7, 5-6, 2-4, 4-6 and 6-8 days, respectively. Adult longevity was 17-19 days, so that duration of first generation on weeds was 54-66 days. Our experiments showed that, at 18 degrees C condition, the first stages have been the maximum nymph period and at 23 degrees C condition, have been the lowest period.