conglobata, Exochomus nigripennis, Coccinella spetempunctata and
C. undecimpunctata as predators feeding on pistachio psylla, Aganoscena pistaciae
in Kerman province. Among them, the O. conglobata was an active psyllids predator
and all others preyed upon aphids and scales. Lady beetle species of other preys
except aphids and coccids also have been considered e.g., Fallahzadeh et al. (2000)
reported nine lady beetles preyed on olive psylla from Fars province.
In terms of habitat, most studies about lady beetle fauna have been carried on in
fruit orchards and crop fields. As a rare case, Seifollahi et al. (2000) reported four
lady beetle species as predators of Gaz psyllid, Cyamophila dicora Lognivora,
from which H. variegata was the most dominant.
In a study on natural enemies of Ash whitefly, Siphoninus phillyreae conducted in
Shiraz, Nephus (Sidis) hiekei collected and reported as a new species (Fallahzadeh
et al. 2003). This species is thermophilous and has been reported previously from
different countries of the Middle East (Fallahzadeh et al. 2003).
Mossadegh and Aleosfoor (2004) recorded 16 lady beetle species feeding on
oleander aphid in Shiraz and Khuzestan provinces (two Southern provinces of Iran).
Surprisingly, they reported aphidophagy of Chilocorus bipustulatus, Rodolia
cardinalis and Stethorus sp. despite their different feeding regime. Hesami and
Fallahzadeh (2004) reported eight species as natural enemies of citrus mealybug
from Fars province and noted to the potential of Hyperaspis polita Weise and
Exochomus nigripennis Erichson. Haghshenas et al. (2004) stated that the
H. variegata contributed 65.8% lady beetle complex of Isfahan province wheat
fields, which was a dominant species in that region.
Lady beetle faunistic of Lorestan province (West of Iran) was surveyed during
2003–2006 (Jafari and Kamali 2007). They reported 28 species from 14 different
genera collectively, which Aphidecta obliterata (Linnaeus) 1758 and Scymnus
mediterraneus Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1977 were new reported for the first time
from Iran. (Jafari and Kamali 2007). Those species were collected on oak, spear
thistle, Cirsium vulagare and Almond. Similar to many related studies, they reported
C. septempunctata is the dominant among the collected species.
Modarres Najaf Abadi et al. (2008a, b) in two different studies, reported five and
four lady beetle species on cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae) and green wheat
aphid in the Sistan province while the seven spotted ladybird, C. septempunctata
with 58.3% and 70.1% contribution was the dominant species among them.
Jafari et al. (2012) reviewed the lady beetle fauna of the Zarand Region (Kerman
province, South of Iran). They recorded 13 species from nine genera from this
region. They have been collected on different crops, vegetables, rosaceous fruit
trees, pomegranate and pistachio. Among the collected species, H. variegata was a
dominant species with a 52% contribution in collecting species composition.
Jafari and Kamali (2007) reported 19 ladybugs from Lorestan province, which
Hyperaspis quadrimaculata (Redtenbacher 1843) was a new species for Iran. This
species has been collected from the alfalfa field fed on cowpea aphid as prey (Ansari
pour et al. 2011).
Urban lady beetles have been studied scarcely. As a rare case, 16 lady beetle
species reported from Chitgar Park (Northwest of Tehran) which O. conglobata was
2 Lady Beetles; Lots of Efforts but few Successes
43
C. undecimpunctata as predators feeding on pistachio psylla, Aganoscena pistaciae
in Kerman province. Among them, the O. conglobata was an active psyllids predator
and all others preyed upon aphids and scales. Lady beetle species of other preys
except aphids and coccids also have been considered e.g., Fallahzadeh et al. (2000)
reported nine lady beetles preyed on olive psylla from Fars province.
In terms of habitat, most studies about lady beetle fauna have been carried on in
fruit orchards and crop fields. As a rare case, Seifollahi et al. (2000) reported four
lady beetle species as predators of Gaz psyllid, Cyamophila dicora Lognivora,
from which H. variegata was the most dominant.
In a study on natural enemies of Ash whitefly, Siphoninus phillyreae conducted in
Shiraz, Nephus (Sidis) hiekei collected and reported as a new species (Fallahzadeh
et al. 2003). This species is thermophilous and has been reported previously from
different countries of the Middle East (Fallahzadeh et al. 2003).
Mossadegh and Aleosfoor (2004) recorded 16 lady beetle species feeding on
oleander aphid in Shiraz and Khuzestan provinces (two Southern provinces of Iran).
Surprisingly, they reported aphidophagy of Chilocorus bipustulatus, Rodolia
cardinalis and Stethorus sp. despite their different feeding regime. Hesami and
Fallahzadeh (2004) reported eight species as natural enemies of citrus mealybug
from Fars province and noted to the potential of Hyperaspis polita Weise and
Exochomus nigripennis Erichson. Haghshenas et al. (2004) stated that the
H. variegata contributed 65.8% lady beetle complex of Isfahan province wheat
fields, which was a dominant species in that region.
Lady beetle faunistic of Lorestan province (West of Iran) was surveyed during
2003–2006 (Jafari and Kamali 2007). They reported 28 species from 14 different
genera collectively, which Aphidecta obliterata (Linnaeus) 1758 and Scymnus
mediterraneus Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1977 were new reported for the first time
from Iran. (Jafari and Kamali 2007). Those species were collected on oak, spear
thistle, Cirsium vulagare and Almond. Similar to many related studies, they reported
C. septempunctata is the dominant among the collected species.
Modarres Najaf Abadi et al. (2008a, b) in two different studies, reported five and
four lady beetle species on cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae) and green wheat
aphid in the Sistan province while the seven spotted ladybird, C. septempunctata
with 58.3% and 70.1% contribution was the dominant species among them.
Jafari et al. (2012) reviewed the lady beetle fauna of the Zarand Region (Kerman
province, South of Iran). They recorded 13 species from nine genera from this
region. They have been collected on different crops, vegetables, rosaceous fruit
trees, pomegranate and pistachio. Among the collected species, H. variegata was a
dominant species with a 52% contribution in collecting species composition.
Jafari and Kamali (2007) reported 19 ladybugs from Lorestan province, which
Hyperaspis quadrimaculata (Redtenbacher 1843) was a new species for Iran. This
species has been collected from the alfalfa field fed on cowpea aphid as prey (Ansari
pour et al. 2011).
Urban lady beetles have been studied scarcely. As a rare case, 16 lady beetle
species reported from Chitgar Park (Northwest of Tehran) which O. conglobata was
2 Lady Beetles; Lots of Efforts but few Successes
43