Among 170 insects infected by fungal pathogens, obtained during 2003-08 from three Northern provinces of Iran (Mazandaran, Gilan and Golestan), eight taxa of entomophthoralean fungi were identified including four pathogens of dipteran insects: Entomophaga tipulae was found on a crane fly, Entomophthora muscae was seen on five flies attached to broadbean leaves, Pandora bulata was observed only ...

In most aphid species, facultative parthenogenetic reproduction allows rapid growth and formation of large single-genotype colonies. Upon predator attack, individual aphids emit an alarm pheromone to warn the colony of this danger. (E)-beta-farnesene (EBF) is the predominant constituent of the alarm pheromone in Myzus persicae (green peach aphid) and many other aphid species. Continuous exposur...

Predator-prey interactions form the core of biological control of arthropod pests. Which tools can be used to monitor and collect carnivorous arthropods in natural habitats and targeted crops? Eco-friendly and effective field lures are urgently needed. In this research, we carried out olfactometer experiments assess innate positive chemotaxis to pollen of seven crop and banker plant by two impo...

The tobacco aphid, Myzus persicae nicotianae is an economically important pest of tobacco. Damage is through direct injury by sucking sap of infested plants as well as reduction of the quality of the leaf by leaving honey-dew which encourages the subsequent growth of sooty-mould. In addition to this, aphids also transmit economically important virus diseases such as the bushy-top virus, the alf...

Four species of entomophthoroid fungi, Pandora neoaphidis (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae), Zoophthora radicans (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae), Entomophthora planchoniana (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae) and Neozygites fresenii (Neozygitales: Neozygitaceae) were found to infect Aphis craccivora, Therioaphis trifolii, and Acyrthosiphon pisum and unidentified species of Acyrthosi...

The evolutionary maintenance of sex, despite competition from asexual reproduction, has long intrigued the evolutionary biologists owing to its numerous apparent short-term costs. In aphids, winter climate is expected to determine the maintenance of sexual lineages in the high latitude zones owing to their exclusive ability to produce frost-resistant eggs. However, diverse reproductive modes ma...