Ali Ameri

Study of the genus Opius Wesmael (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Opiinae) in Southern Iran, with eleven new records.

This study was carried out to determine the species of the genus Opius Wesmael, 1835 in Hormozgan province (Southern Iran). Malaise traps and sweep nets were used to obtain adult specimens from various habitats in Hormozgan province during 2011-2013. Fifteen species from the genus Opius belonging to ten subgenera were collected. The subgenera Merotrachys Fischer, 1972 and Opiostomus Fischer, 1972 and eleven species are recorded for the first time from Iran: Opius (Agnopius) nowakowskii Fischer, 1959; Opius (Agnopius) novosimilis Fischer, 1989, Opius (Allophlebus) staryi Fischer, 1958; Opius (Allotypus) damnosus Papp, 1980; Opius (Opiostomus) riphaeus Tobias, 1986; Opius (Opiothorax) minusculae Fischer, 1967; Opius (Pendopius) bajariae Fischer, 1989; Opius (Merotrachys) penetrator Fischer 1966; Opius (Hypocynodus) flavipes Szepligeti, 1898; Opius (Hypocynodus) latidens Fischer, 1990 and Opius (Hypocynodus) latipediformis Fischer 2004. A key for identification of Opius species from southern Iran is provided.

Study of the genus Bracon Fabricius, 1804 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) of Southern Iran with description of a new species

A survey on the genus Bracon Fabricius, 1804 was conducted in Hormozgan province, Southern Iran, during February 2011-July 2012. In all, 19 species belonging to seven subgenera were collected and identified, of which seven species and the subgenus Asiabracon Tobias, 1957 are recorded for first time from Iran. Bracon (Orthobracon) persiangulfensis Ameri, Beyarslan & Talebi sp. n. is newly described and illustrated from the Queshm island of Persian Gulf. Morphological characters of the new species were compared with the congeneric species. The newly recorded species from Iran were as follow: B. (Asiabracon) quardrimaculatus Telenga, 1936; B. (Bracon) kozak Telenga, 1936; B. (Glabrobracon) immutator Nees; B. (Habrobracon) telengai (Mulyarskaya, 1955); B. (Habrobracon) variegator Spinola, 1808; B. (Orthobracon) epitriptus Marshall, 1885 and B. (Orthobracon) exhilarator Nees, 1834. A key is presented for identification of Bracon species collected in Hormozgan province as well as an updated checklist of all Bracon species occurring in Iran.

Taxonomic study of the subfamily Doryctinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in Hormozgan province, southern Iran.

A survey on the subfamily Doryctinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in southern Iran during 2011–2013 led to determination of nine species belonging to five genera: Doryctes Haliday (2 species), Hecabalodes Wilkinson (1 species), Leluthia Cameron (1 species), Rhaconotus Ruthe (3 species), and Spathius Nees (2 species). The genus Hecabalodes and seven species, namely Doryctes inopinatus Belokobylskij, 1984, Hecabalodes radialis Tobias, 1962, Leluthia transcaucasica (Tobias, 1976), Rhaconotus aciculatus Ruthe, 1854, Rhaconotus kerzhneri Belokobylskij, 1985, Rhaconotus flavistigma Telenga, 1941, and Spathius exarator (Linnaeus, 1758) are recorded for the first time from Iran. An identification key is constructed for the collected species. Additionally, an updated checklist of Iranian Doryctinae wasps is provided.

Review of the genus Aristelix Nixon, 1943 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae), with description of a new species from Iran and clarification of the status of Antrusa chrysogastra (Tobias, 1986)

The species of the Western Palaearctic genus Aristelix Nixon, 1943 are reviewed. The new species Aristelix persica sp. n. is described from Iran. Redescriptions and illustrations of A. phaenicura (Haliday, 1839) and Antrusa chrysogastra (Tobias, 1986), comb. n. are presented. A key to the known Aristelix species is