Sampling surveys were conducted in various regions of SE to West of Iran to collect the Microgastrinae specimens during 2013–2016. Reliable diagnostic morphological characters were used for comparing and identification of variable specimens. Four species of Choeras Mason, 1981 (Braconidae: Microgastrinae) from Iran are revised; three are illustrated, of which one is described as new species from SE and W Iran: C. taftanensis Ghafouri Moghaddam & van Achterberg sp. n. Occurrence of C. dorsalis in Egypt, Jordan and Malta, C. tedellae in Bulgaria and C. tiro in Israel and Spain are also first recorded.

A new species of Aspilota without mesoscutal pit, A. isfahanensis Peris-Felipo, sp. n., is described and illustrated from Iran. The new species is compared with its three morphologically most similar species, A. compressiventris Stelfox & Grahan, 1951, A. makita Papp, 2008 and A. spiracula Munk & Peris-Felipo, 2013, is provided. A key to the western Asian species of Aspilota is provided.

Aphid parasitoids of the subfamily Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) of northeastern Iran were studied in this paper. A total of 29 species are ke

A new mechanical innovation is described to deal with standard labelling of dried specimens on triangular cards and/or pinned specimens in personal and public collections. It works quickly, precisely, and easily and is very useful for maintaining label uniformity in collections. The tools accurately sets the position of labels in the shortest possible time. This tools has advantages including rapid processing, cost effectiveness, light weight, and high accuracy, compared to conventional methods. It is fully customisable, compact, and does not require specialist equipment to assemble. Conventional methods generally require locating holes on the pinning block surface when labelling with a resulting risk to damage of the specimens. Insects of different orders can be labelled by this simple and effective tool.

Ephedrus persicae Froggatt (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) represents a biologically complex parasitoid species group that parasitizes >150 aphid species worldwide, including many pests in different agroecosystems. Evidence from the host range indicated some taxonomic problems within this species-complex. Using classical and geometric morphometric approaches, we assessed the morphological differences among various E. persicae biotypes in the Palaearctic reared from 20 aphid hosts. We found that morphological variability of E. persicae biotypes was influenced by the host. Classical morphometric analysis indicated a conservative position of E. persicae biotypes in the Palaearctic. Our analysis showed that E. persicae biotypes reared from nonleaf-curling Aphis and leaf-curling Dysaphis aphid hosts have significant differences, but all other analyzed E. persicae biotypes have an intermediate position, making it impracticable to split the E. persicae group this way. However, geometric morphometrics used to analyze variation of wing shape showed better predictive ability. The high ratio of correctly assigned individuals based on the wing shape of E. persicae/Aphis viticis Ferrari, E. persicae/Brachycaudus klugkisti (Börner), and E. persicae/Tuberocephalus momonis (Matsumura) biotypes indicates that some host-specific adaptations occurred. The E. persicae/ Hyadaphis foeniculi (Passerini) biotype is clearly separated along the CV2 canonical axis, exhibiting shorter and wider wings. On the basis of this result, we describe a new taxon—Ephedrus lonicerae n. sp.