The Tribe Spilomicrini Ashmead, 1893 (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae, Diapriinae) in Iran, with New Records for Iranian Fauna

Abstract

A faunistic study of the tribe Spilomicrini Ashmead, 1893 (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae, Diapriinae) has been carried out in Iran. This study is based on the material collected using Malaise traps in four provinces of Iran, including Guilan, Mazandaran, Golestan, and Markazi. The genus Paramesius with one species and Spilomicrus with four species are documented and illustrated for the first time from Iran: P. rufipes Westwood, 1832, S. bipunctatus Kieffer, 1911, S. brevimalaris Hübner & Chemyreva, 2024, S. rufitarsis Kieffer, 1911 and S. stigmaticalis Westwood, 1832. A key to the Iranian Spilomicrini is provided.

Full text

J. Entomol. Res. Soc., 26(3): 381-393, 2024 Research Article
Doi: 10.51963/jers.v26i3.2640 Online ISSN:2651-3579
Izadizadeh, M., Talebi, A. A., Chemyreva,, V, G., Farahani, S., Kazerani, F., & Ameri, A. (2024). The
tribe Spilomicrini Ashmead, 1893 (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae, Diapriinae) in Iran, with new records for
Iranian fauna. Journal of the Entomological Research Society, 26(3), 381-393.
Received: April 22, 2024 Accepted: November 12, 2024
The Tribe Spilomicrini Ashmead, 1893 (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae,
Diapriinae) in Iran, with New Records for Iranian Fauna
Mohammad IZADIZADEH1a Ali Asghar TALEBI1b* Vasilisa G. CHEMYREVA2
Samira FARAHANI3a Farzaneh KAZERANI3b Ali AMERI4
1
Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, IRAN
2Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, RUSSIA
3Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research Education and
Extension Organization, Tehran, IRAN
4Insect Taxonomy Research Department, Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection,
Agricultural Research, Tehran, IRAN
e-mails: 1amohammad.izadizadeh@modares.ac.ir, btalebia@modares.ac.ir, 2diapriidas.vas@
gmail.com, 3as.farahani@rifr-ac.ir, 3bfarzane.kazerani@gmail.com, 4ameri@iripp.ir
ORCID IDs: 1a0000-0002-8724-0132, 1b0000-0001-5749-6391, 20000-0002-6547-6259,
3a0000-0002-6897-0631, 3b0000-0003-1968-3350, 40000-0003-2372-8494
*Corresponding author
ABSTRACT
A faunistic study of the tribe Spilomicrini Ashmead, 1893 (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae, Diapriinae) has
been carried out in Iran. This study is based on the material collected using Malaise traps in four provinces
of Iran, including Guilan, Mazandaran, Golestan, and Markazi. The genus Paramesius with one species
and Spilomicrus with four species are documented and illustrated for the rst time from Iran: P. rupes
Westwood, 1832, S. bipunctatus Kie󰀨er, 1911, S. brevimalaris Hübner & Chemyreva, 2024, S. rutarsis
Kie󰀨er, 1911 and S. stigmaticalis Westwood, 1832. A key to the Iranian Spilomicrini is provided.
Keywords: diapriid wasps, parasitoids, Spilomicrus, Paramesius, Palaearctic, Western Asia, fauna.

382
IZADIZADEH, M. et al.
INTRODUCTION
The tribe Spilomicrini Ashmead, 1893, within the subfamily Diapriinae Haliday,
1833, comprises 27 genera worldwide (Masner & García, 2002; Chemyreva & Kolyada,
2013). Six genera, Entomacis Förster, 1856, Idiotypa Förster, 1856, Paramesius
Westwood, 1832, Pentapria Kie󰀨er, 1905, Spilomicrus Westwood and Symphytopria
Kie󰀨er, 1910 1832 are found in the Palearctic region (Johnson, 1992; Chemyreva &
Kolyada, 2013; Chemyreva, 2024, in press). Prior to this study, there were no records
of the tribe Spilomicrini from Iran.
Spilomicrus Westwood, 1832 is a large genus, with more than 170 recognized
species worldwide, of which 32 species are recorded from the Western Palaearctic
region (Johnson, 1992; Chemyreva, 2021, 2023; Hübner & Chemyreva, 2024). The
known hosts of Spilomicrus species are mainly dipteran larvae and, possibly, species of
the Coleoptera from the families Curculionidae (Scolytinae) and Staphylinidae (Honda,
1969; Masner, 1991; Notton, 1999; Masner & García, 2002). Several comprehensive
studies of the genus Spilomicrus have been conducted in the Palaearctic region in
the recent years (Kim & Lee, 2016; Chemyreva, 2015a, 2015b, 2016, 2018, 2021,
2023; Peeters, 2020; Hübner & Chemyreva, 2024). These studies have resulted to
discovery of many new species and the documentation of new synonyms.
The genus Paramesius Westwood, 1832 comprises more than 50 species
worldwide (Chemyreva & Kolyada, 2018). Johnson (1992), in his catalogue, listed 18
species of this genus in Europe. Nevertheless, due to subsequent synonymizations,
the current count for this genus in Europe has been decreased to only seven species
(Macek, 2001; Chemyreva & Kolyada, 2018). There is no information on the host
association of the Paramesius species.
The Iranian Diapriidae are still poorly studied and few comprehensive papers
have been published (Amini et al., 2014; Izadizadeh et al., 2020, 2021, 2023a,
2023b, 2023c, 2023d). According to the available literature, 26 species of Diapriidae
have been reported from Iran, of which only three species belong to the subfamily
Diapriinae (Amini et al., 2014; Izadizadeh et al., 2020). Previous records of the
subfamily Diapriinae in Iran (Samin et al., 2018) are a matter of debate since no
voucher specimens have been deposited, and the co-authors are unaware of the
publication of these records in a local periodical. In order to follow the professional
taxonomic approach, we ignored these suspicious records. All new records in this
study are based on recently collected material from various parts of Iran, thoroughly
examined and publicly accessible in designated depositories.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
All s
pecimens examined in this study were collected from various localities in
northern and central Iran using Malaise traps. The specimens were extracted from
the traps, transferred to 70% ethyl-alcohol, and stored in a freezer for further studies.
For sample preparation, the specimen was placed on a piece of absorbent paper

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The Tribe Spilomicrini Ashmead, 1893 (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae, Diapriinae) in Iran
for drying. The dried specimens were card-mounted and labeled. Photographs were
taken using an Olympus TM SZX9 stereomicroscope equipped with a 650D Canon
digital camera. Image stacks were combined with Helicon Focus (Helicon Soft Ltd.,
Kharkiv, Ukraine). Identications were mainly performed using reliable keys (Nixon,
1980; Chemyreva & Kolyada, 2018; Chemyreva, 2021; Hübner & Chemyreva, 2024).
Morphological terminology and abbreviations follow Masner & García (2002) and Yoder
(2004). Voucher specimens are deposited in the Department of Entomology, Tarbiat
Modares University, Tehran insect collection (TMUC) and the Research Institute of
Forests and Rangelands, Tehran (RIFR).
The following abbreviations are used: A1-A13 = antennomeres are numbered
from the scape (A1) to the apical segment (A13). T2 = largest metasomal tergite past
petiole or syntergite. S2 = largest metasomal sternite past petiole.
RESULTS
Taxonomy
Family Diapriidae Haliday, 1833
Subfamily Diapriinae Haliday, 1833
Tribe Spilomicrini Ashmead, 1893
Genus Paramesius Westwood, 1832
Type species: Paramesius rupes Westwood, 1832
Diagnosis: Body length 1.5-5.0 mm; body color from black to brown, smooth and
shining, usually with sparse and long setae; postgena often with hairy cushions; antenna
with 13 antennomeres in both sexes, A13 in female the longest and the largest clavomere
(Fig. 1d), A3 in male distinctly shorter than A4; A4 modied; anterior margin of pronotum
with scattered pilosity or pilosity denser, forming a cushion; lateral side of pronotum
posteriorly with a row of small foveae (Fig. 1f); mesoscutum at to convex, with sparse
setae; anterior mesoscutellar pit simple, usually large, deep, transversely oval, often with
longitudinal carinae; fore wing with costal, submarginal and marginal veins, marginal vein
distinctly elongate, at least 3.0 times as long as wide (Fig. 1g); petiole distinctly elongate,
longitudinally carinate or, very rarely, smooth; metasoma behind petiole elongate, sharply
conical-pointed apically in females, ovoid in males; anterior margin of T2 covers posterior
end of petiole from outside, sometimes with short incision medially or laterally, sometimes
with two very shallow and bare depressions anterolaterally (Fig. 1h).
Remarks. This diagnosis is appropriate for the Palaearctic species of the
Paramesius. For an extended diagnosis, see Masner & García (2002). For a detailed
description and key of the Palaearctic species of the genus Paramesius, see
Chemyreva & Kolyada (2018).

384
IZADIZADEH, M. et al.
Paramesius rupes Westwood, 1832
Syn.: Paramesius claviscapus Thomson, 1859; P. elongatus Thomson, 1859; P.
tenuicornis Thomson, 1859; P. inermis Kie󰀨er, 1910; P. bifoveatus Kie󰀨er, 1911; P.
dentatus Kie󰀨er, 1911; P. dolichocerus Kie󰀨er, 1911; P. inchoatus Kie󰀨er, 1911; P.
longicornis Kie󰀨er, 1911; P. nigricornis Kie󰀨er, 1911; P. subinermis Kie󰀨er, 1911; P.
subspinosus Kie󰀨er, 1911; Spilomicrus minor Kie󰀨er, 1911; S. striatifoveatus Szabó, 1960
.
Material examined: Golestan province, Shast Kola forest (36°45ʹ29″ N, 54°23ʹ12″ E, 424 m a.s.l.),
12.06.2016, 1 ♀ (TMUC); 04.07.2016, 1 ♂ (TMUC); Shast Kola forest (36º47′24″ N, 54º21′54″ E, 263
m a.s.l.), 12.06.2016, 1 ♀ (TMUC); 09.07.2017, 4 ♂♂ (TMUC); Loveh forest (37°20ʹ43″ N, 55°40ʹ40″
E, 753 m a.s.l.), 04.07.2016, 1 ♀ (TMUC), leg. S. Farahani. Mazandaran province, Kheyroud Kenar
(36°34ʹ36.23ʺ N, 51°34ʹ37.94ʺ E, 722 m a.s.l), 24.07.2018, 1 ♂ (TMUC); Galanderoud (36°26ʹ56″ N,
51°51ʹ20″ E, 1407 m a.s.l), 24.07.2018, 1 ♀ (TMUC); Neka forest (36°30ʹ00.4ʹʹ N, 53°27ʹ14.2″ E, 828 m
a.s.l), 27.06.2018, 2 ♀♀ (RIFR); Neka forest (36°34ʹ49.2″ N, 53°27ʹ95.6″ E, 465 m a.s.l), 24.07.2018, 1
♂ (RIFR); Guilan province, Shafaroud forest (37°28ʹ18ʺ N, 48°49ʹ23ʺ E, 1114 m a.s.l), 26.08.2018, 1 ♂
(RIFR); Rezvan Shahr (37°31ʹ00″ N, 49°2ʹ7″ E, 199 m a.s.l), 22.07.2018, 1 ♀ (TMUC), leg. F. Kazerani.
Diagnosis: Female. Body length 1.4-2.6 mm (Fig. 1a); head in dorsal view
transverse, 1.25-1.35 times as wide as long, with sparse setae (Fig. 1c); occipital carina
smooth in dorsal view; antenna thicker and darker towards the top (Fig. 1c), A13 2.2-2.4
times as long as wide; notauli absent anteriorly (Fig. 1e) to almost complete; pronotal
cervical area poorly pubescent with a few long setae; mesoscutal suprahumeral sulcus
absent (Fig. 1e); anterior mesoscutellar pit with four elongate carina inside (Fig. 1e);
petiole 1.6-1.8 times as long as wide in dorsal view (Fig. 1f); anterior margin of T2
with a deep median notch (Fig. 1h); body color black, antennomeres in base yellowish
brown, darker towards the top (Fig. 1d).
Remarks. The Iranian specimens show variation in several characters compared
to those described by Chemyreva & Kolyada (2018): Female: Body length 2-2.6 mm.,
fore wing length 1.6-2.1 mm, anterior mesoscutellar pit with 3-4 carinae.
Distribution: Abkhazia, Austria, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Georgia,
Germany, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland (Nixon, 1980;
Macek, 2001; Chemyreva & Kolyada, 2018), Iran (new record).
Biology: Unknown.

385
The Tribe Spilomicrini Ashmead, 1893 (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae, Diapriinae) in Iran
Figure 1. Paramesius rupes Westwood, 1832, female: a) habitus in lateral view; b) head in frontal view;
c) head in dorsal view; d) antenna in lateral view; e) mesosoma in dorsal view; f) head and mesosoma
in lateral view; g) fore wing venation; h) metasoma in dorsal view.
Genus Spilomicrus Westwood, 1832
Type species: Spilomicrus stigmaticalis Westwood, 1832
Diagnosis: Body length 1.0-4.5 mm; body color black to brown, smooth and shining,
usually with few sparse long setae; postgena with more or less hairy cushions (Figs 2a, 4a);
antenna with 13 antennomeres in both sexes (Figs 2b, 3b); anterior margin of pronotum

386
IZADIZADEH, M. et al.
with a cushion of hairs; lateral side of pronotum posteriorly without a row of small foveae;
at to mesoscutum convex and with sparse setae; anterior mesoscutellar pit bifoveate
(Fig. 2d); metapleuron rugose and densely hairy; fore wing with costal, submarginal and
marginal veins; marginal vein at most 2.5 times as long as wide (Fig. 2d); petiole elongate,
usually with longitudinal carinae; anterior margin of T2 never notched medially or laterally
(Figs 3d, 4d), rarely with two hairy depressions anterolaterally; S2 with deeply arched
anterior margin and hairy cushion at base; apex of female metasoma only shortly pointed.
Remarks. This diagnosis is appropriate suitable for the Palaearctic species of
Spilomicrus. For a more extended diagnosis of this genus, see Masner & García (2002).
For a detailed description and key to European species of Spilomicrus, see Chemyreva
(2021) and Hübner & Chemyreva (2024).
Spilomicrus bipunctatus Kie󰀨er, 1911
Material examined: Qazvin Province, Loshan (36°40′14.58″ N, 49°25′38.52″ E, 295 m a.s.l.),
25.05.2011, 2 ♀♀ (TMUC), leg. A. Nadimi. Mazandaran Province, Neka Forest (36°30ʹ00.4ʹʹ N, 53°27ʹ14.2″
E, 828 m a.s.l), 16.05.2018, 2 ♀♀ (RIFR), leg. F. Kazerani. Guilan Province, Rezvan Shahr (37°31ʹ00″ N,
49°2ʹ7″ E, 199 m a.s.l), 13.05.2018, 2 ♀♀ (TMUC), leg. F. Kazerani.
Diagnosis: Female. (Fig. 2a). Body length 3.1-3.4 mm, head in dorsal view transverse,
1.28-1.35 times as wide as long; malar sulcus distinct near mandible; clypeus semi-circular,
1.8 times as wide as high; pleurostomal distance 1.1 times as long as shortest distance
between eyes; eye small, 0.4-0.45 times as high as head and with few long setae; neck
pubescent and with longitudinal grooves; notauli distinct and small, 0.11-0.15 times as
long as mesoscutum (Fig. 2d); propodeum coarsely rugose, entirely covered with pale
pilosity; all legs with long femoral stalk; petiole in dorsal view 0.9-1.2 times as long as
wide (Fig. 2d); T2 bare (Fig. 2d) and with micro-punctures posteriorly. Body black, legs
brown, scape and pedicel black, A3-A7 brown, A8-A13 dark brown (Fig. 2b).
Distribution: Azerbaijan, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary,
Italy, Moldova, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Russia, Ukraine, U. K. (European part)
(Nixon, 1980; Peeters, 2020; Chemyreva, 2021), Iran (new record).
Biology: Unknown.
Figure 2. Spilomicrus bipunctatus Kie󰀨er, 1911, female: a) habitus in lateral view; b) antenna; c) fore wing
venation; d) mesosoma and base of metasoma in dorsal view.

387
The Tribe Spilomicrini Ashmead, 1893 (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae, Diapriinae) in Iran
Spilomicrus brevimalaris Hübner & Chemyreva, 2024
Material examined: Golestan Province, Tuskestan forest (36°46ʹ33″ N, 54°34ʹ58″ E, 500 m a.s.l.),
12.06.2016, 1 ♂ (TMUC), leg. S. Farahani.
Diagnosis: Male. (Fig. 3a). Body length 2.1 mm, head in dorsal view transverse,
1.5 times as wide as long (Fig. 3d); malar sulcus absent; malar distance 0.2 times
as long as largest diameter of eye and 0.25 times as long as pleurostomal distance;
clypeus semi-circular, 1.7 times as wide as high; eye oval, 0.7 times as high as head
and with few long setae; A4 with deep excavation and keel running from base to
0.6 of segment length (Fig. 3c); A3 slightly longer than A2 (Fig. 3b); neck bare, with
shallow longitudinal grooves; notauli distinct, 0.6 times as long as mesoscutum (Fig.
3d); propodeum entirely pubescent and coarsely rugose; all legs with long femoral
stalk; petiole in dorsal view 1.9 times as long as wide; T2 with two bunches of setae
at anterior margin, bare and smooth posteriorly. Body black, metasoma dark brown;
scape black; A1-A13, legs and wing veins yellowish brown (Fig. 3a).
Distribution: Germany, Russia (European part) (Hübner & Chemyreva, 2024),
Iran (new record).
Biology: Unknown.
Figure 3. Spilomicrus brevimalaris Hübner & Chemyreva, 2024, male: a) habitus; b) antenna; c) basal
antennomeres of antenna; d) mesosoma and base of metasoma in dorsal view.
Spilomicrus rutarsis Kie󰀨er, 1911 (Fig. 4)
Syn.: Spilomicrus pseudocursor Szabó, 1974
Material examined: Markazi Province, Haftad Qolleh Protected Area (34º05′38.7″ N, 50º14′22″ E,
2088 m a.s.l), 08.05.2018, 1 ♀ (TMUC), leg. M. Parchami-Araghi and E. Gilasian.

388
IZADIZADEH, M. et al.
Diagnosis: Female. Body length 3.2 mm (Fig. 4a), head in dorsal view transverse,
1.3 times as wide as long; malar sulcus absent; clypeus 2.5 times as wide as high;
eye oval and with few long setae; neck with sparse setae and with short longitudinal
grooves; notauli distinct and small, 0.3 times as long as mesoscutum (Fig. 4d);
propodeum entirely pubescent and coarsely rugose (Fig. 4d); all legs with short
femoral stalk (Fig. 4c); petiole in dorsal view 1.1 times as long as wide; T2 smooth
and bare (Fig. 4d). Body black; scape black, pedicel and A3-A7 brown, A8-A13 dark
brown (Fig. 4b); trochanters, tibiae and tarsus brown (Fig. 4a).
Distribution: Algeria, Austria, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,
Netherlands, U. K. (Nixon, 1980; Peeters, 2020; Chemyreva, 2021), Iran (new record).
Biology: Unknown.
Figure 4. Spilomicrus rutarsis Kie󰀨er, 1911, female: a) habitus in lateral view; b) antenna; c) trochanter
and femur of hind leg; d) mesosoma and base of metasoma in dorsal view.
Spilomicrus stigmaticalis Westwood, 1832 (Fig. 5)
Syn.: Spilomicrus nigripes Thomson, 1858; S. armatus Ashmead, 1893; S. tripartitus
Kie󰀨er, 1911; Spilomicrus pilicornis Szabó, 1977; Spilomicrus barbatus Szabó, 1983;
Spilomicrus mediofurcatus Szabó, 1983; Spilomicrus basalyformis Marshall, 1868.
Material examined: Mazandaran Province, Galanderoud (36°26ʹ56″ N, 51°51ʹ20″ E, 1407 m a.s.l),
28.08.2018, 1 ♀ (TMUC), leg. F. Kazerani.
Diagnosis: Female. Body length 2.5 mm (Fig. 5a), head in dorsal view transverse,
1.2 times as wide as long; malar sulcus absent; clypeus semi-circular, 2.0 times as wide
as high (Fig. 5b); eye oval and with few long setae; neck with sparse setae and with

389
The Tribe Spilomicrini Ashmead, 1893 (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae, Diapriinae) in Iran
short longitudinal grooves; notauli long, 0.9 times as long as mesoscutum (Fig. 5d);
propodeum entirely pubescent and coarsely rugose; all legs with long femoral stalk;
petiole in dorsal view 2.0 times as long as wide; T2 smooth and bare. Body black; scape
and pedicel black, A3-A13 dark brown (Fig. 5c); tegula, wing veins and legs dark brown.
Distribution: Algeria, Austria, Azerbaijan, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland,
France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Poland, Sweden,
Switzerland, Slovakia, Russia, Ukraine, U. K., USA (Hellen, 1963; Kozlov, 1978;
Masner, 1991; Chemyreva, 2021), Iran (new record).
Biology: It has been recorded as a parasitoid of the rove beetles belonging to the
genera Quedius and Philonothus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) (Nixon, 1980; Masner, 1991).
Figure 5. Spilomicrus stigmaticalis Westwood, 1832, female: a) habitus in lateral view; b) head in frontal
view; c) antenna in lateral view; d) mesosoma in dorsal view.
Key to species of the tribe Spilomicrini Ashmead, 1893 occurring in Iran
1. Marginal vein more than 3 times as long as wide (Fig. 1g); posterior margin of
pronotum with a row of small foveae (Fig. 1f); T2 with tiny median and lateral notches
at base (Fig. 1h). .........................................................Paramesius rupes Westwood
- Marginal vein at most 2.5 times as long as wide (Fig. 2c); lateral surface of
pronotum without such a row of fovea; T2 smooth and without notches at base (Figs
2d, 3d, 4d) (Spilomicrus Westwood)......................................................................... 2

390
IZADIZADEH, M. et al.
2. T2 pubescent at base (Fig. 3d); malar space 0.2 times as long as the largest
diameter of eye. ...................................Spilomicrus brevimalaris Hübner & Chemyreva
- T2 bare at base (Figs 2d, 4d); malar space at least 0.5 times as long as the
largest diameter of eye. .............................................................................................3
3. A13 of female not narrower than A12 in dorsal and lateral views (Fig. 5c); А9
as wide as А10 in dorsal view; male A4 longer than A3, with deep emargination and
small projection at base of A4. ............................Spilomicrus stigmaticalis Westwood
- A13 of female narrower than A12 in dorsal and lateral views (Fig. 4b); А9 narrower
than А10 in dorsal view; male A4 shorter than A3, with shallow emargination and
without projection at base of A4. .................................................................................4
4. Pleurostomal distance distinctly longer than distance between eyes in front
view; clypeus 1.7-1.8 times as wide as long; all femora of female slender, with long
stalks. .......................................................................... Spilomicrus bipunctatus Kie󰀨er
- Pleurostomal distance distinctly shorter than distance between eyes in front
view; clypeus 2.2-2.7 times as wide as high; all femora of female broad, with very
short stalks. ...................................................................... Spilomicrus rutarsis Kie󰀨er
DISCUSSION
All species identied in this study are reported for the rst time from Iran. Paramesius
rupes is widely distributed in the Siberia and Western Palaearctic region and is
dispersed throughout Europe (Chemyreva & Kolyada, 2018). In this research, it was
collected from northern Iran. The genus Spilomicrus is distributed worldwide and
comprises 32 species found in the Western Palaearctic region (Chemyreva, 2021;
Hübner & Chemyreva, 2024). The males of S. bipunctatus and S. rutarsis are scarce
and quite rare in Europe, respectively (Chemyreva, 2021) and were not collected in
this study. Spilomicrus stigmaticalis is very common in Europe, but in this study, only
one specimen was collected. Possibly, northern Iran is the southernmost border of this
species distribution and therefore it is rare here. Previously, only one species of this
genus, S. formosus Jansson, had been reported from the Ardabil Province of Iran (Samin
et al., 2018). Still, we did not collect specimens of this species in the studied locations.
With the current research, the number of known Iranian species of this genus
has increased to ve. All specimens were collected using Malaise traps; therefore,
their hosts are unknown. No information is currently available regarding the biology
of Paramesius species (Macek, 2001; Chemyreva & Kolyada, 2018). Nevertheless,
earlier studies have demonstrated that some Spilomicrus species act as parasitoids
for various dipteran species of the families Bibionidae, Syrphidae, Tachinidae,
Sciomyzidae, Pipunculidae, Heleomyzidae and Muscidae (Thompson, 1955; Honda,
1969; Masner, 1991). Numerous species of the families Syrphidae (Gilasian,van
Steenis, & Parchami-Araghi, 2022; Dousti, 2023), Tachinidae (Seyyedi-Sahebari,
Khaghaninia, & Talebi, 2019, 2021, 2023), Sciomyzidae (Kazerani, Talebi, &
Mortelmans, 2017) and Pipunculidae (Majnon Jahromi, Gheibi, Fallahzadeh,

391
The Tribe Spilomicrini Ashmead, 1893 (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae, Diapriinae) in Iran
Kehlmaier, & Hesami, 2018) have been reported from northern Iran, potentially
serving as hosts for Spilomicrus species. Spilomicrus stigmaticalis is known as a
larval parasitoid of the rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) (Nixon, 1980; Masner,
1991). Many species of the family Staphylinidae are also documented in Iran (Assing,
2011; Tabadkani, Nozari, & Hosseininaveh, 2015). Further research is essential to
explore the relationship between Spilomicrus species and their hosts, and to improve
our understanding of their host associations and ecological roles.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to thank the Department of Entomology, Tarbiat Modares University,
Tehran, Iran and the Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Tehran, Iran for
providing nancial support. Many thanks to Drs. A. Nadimi, M. Parchami-Araghi and
E. Gilasian for helping us in trapping and collecting specimens. This study was partly
supported by the Russian state research project No. 122031100272-3 for CVG. We
sincerely thank the three anonymous reviewers for their critical review and constructive
comments, which greatly contributed to improving the manuscript.
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