Effect of five soybean cultivars (Sahar, JK, BP, Williams, and L17) on life table parameters of the beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was evaluated at 25 ± 1• C, 60 ± 5% relative humidity and a photoperiod of 16 h light/8 h dark. The highest and lowest net fecundity rates were obtained on Williams (244.1 ± 19.4 eggs/female) and L17 (80.5 ± 6.9 eggs/female), respectively. The net reproductive rates (R o ) were highest on Williams (137.0 ± 11.2 females/female/generation) and lowest on BP (41.3 ± 4.1 females/female/generation). The intrinsic rate of increase (r m ) differed significantly among five soybean cultivars, ranging from 0.1169 day −1 (on Williams) to 0.122 day −1 (on BP). The highest value of finite rate of increase (λ) was on Williams (1.18 day −1 ), which was significantly different from other cultivars. The mean generation time (T c ) was significantly different on various cultivars, ranging from 32.0 ± 0.3 days (on L17) to 28.8 ± 0.3 days (on Sahar). The results are discussed with respect to the potential effect of soybean cultivars on the performance of S. exigua.

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Abstract:Occurrence of the genus Microplitis Forster (Braconidae, Microgastrinae) was surveyed in the Northern part of Iran. The specimens were collected using Malaise traps during 2010-2011. Two species, Microplitis rufiventris Kokujev, 1914 and M. ochraceus Szepligeti, 1896 were collected and identified of which the first species is newly recorded from Iran. Diagnostic characters and geographical distribution of the species are briefly discussed. (Yu et al. 2012).The genus Microplitis comprises a moderately small group, but the species have a worldwide distribution (Yu et al. 2012). This genus includes 178 described species worldwide, and approximately 77 species are found in the Palaearctic region (Yu et al. 2012). Member of the genus Microplitis are endoparasitoids of Lepidoptera, mainly Noctuidae (Wilkinson 1930;Yu et al. 2012; Gupta 2013). Janzen et al. (2003) studied the host specificity and hyperparasitism associated with Microplitis species in relation to sphingid hosts.The genus Microplitis was formerly classified under the genus Microgaster Latreille, 1804 with the type species Microgaster sordipes Nees (Telenga 1955). Species of the genus Microplitis were transferred to the new genus Glabromicroplitis by Papp (1979Papp ( , 1986. Nixon (1965) reclassified and reorganized the subfamily Microgastrinae. According to the subsequent studies, the genus Glabromicroplitis has been determined as a junior synonym of Microplitis (Austin and Dangerfield 1993). The genus can be recognized by the roughly sculptured propodeum, having a large areolet, shape and sculpture of the first metasomal tergite, and by the existence of a weak suture separating the second and third tergum (Mason 1981; Austin and Dangerfield 1993;Song and Chen 2008). Nixon (1970) revised 28 European Microplitis species. The Palaearctic species of the Microplitis were revised and keyed by Papp (1984), who recorded a total 68 species with description of seven new species. Gupta (2013) revised Indian Microplitis species and described one new species.Not much research has been done on the fauna of Microplitis in Iran. So far, six species of Microplitis have been recorded from Iran (Telenga 1955;Nixon 1968;Shenefelt 1973;Tobias 1976;Papp 1984; Fallahzadeh and Saghaei 2010; Ghahari et al. 2011a,b;Rastegar et al. 2012).Here, we present the first record of Microplitis rufiventris Kokujev, 1914 from Iran.Study material was collected from different habitats of Northern Iran during March to November of 2010 and 2011 using Malaise traps. The specimens were taken from the traps at weekly intervals. Later the dried specimens were card-mounted and labelled. Identifications were performed using keys by Papp (1984) and Tobias et al. (1986). The photographs were taken using an Olympus SZX9 stereomicroscope equipped with a Sony CCD digital camera. Morphological terminology follows van Achterberg (1993). The specimens are deposited in the insect collection of the Department of Entomology, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran and the Naturalis Biodiversity ...

The genus Choeras Mason, 1981 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Microgastrinae) in northern Iran is studied taxonomically. Specimens were collected using Malaise traps during 2010 and 2011. A total of five species were identified, three being new species which are described and illustrated: Choeras formosus Abdoli & Fernandez-Triana sp. nov., C. fulviventris Fernandez-Triana & Abdoli sp. nov. and C. qazviniensis Fernandez-Triana & Talebi sp. nov. Two species (i.e., C. taftanensis and C. tiro) are new provincial records. The number of Choeras species in Iran is now raised to seven. An identification key to all West Palaearctic species of Choeras is provided.