The aim of this paper is to present the first record of ctenophore species Pleurobrachia pileus (O. F. Müller, 1776) in the coral reef as was recently found in Iraqi marine waters. The specimens were collected from two sites, the first was in Khor Abdullah during May 2015, and the second site was located in the pelagic water of the coral reef area, near the Al-Basrah deep sea crude oil marine loading terminal. Three samples were collected at this site during May 2015, February and March 2018 which showed that P. pileus were present at a densities of 3.0, 2.2 and 0.55 ind./ m³ respectively. The species can affect on the abundance of other zooplankton community through predation.

Surveying 59 references concerning the occurrence of the monogeneans of the family Diplozoidae parasitizing fishes of Iraq showed the occurrence of 15 valid species of this family which included one species of Diplozoon, one species of Eudiplozoon and 13 species of Paradiplozoon. In addition to these species, some unidentified adult and larval (diporpa larvae) specimens of the genus Diplozoon were reported from 12 fish hosts among which four fish species showed no infection with any of the nominated diplozoid species while the others showed mixed diplozoid infections. These diplozoids were reported from 27 fish host species in Iraq. All the diplozoids were recorded from freshwater habitats except one <

A total 474 argasid ticks removed from 617 hosts including bats, rodents, and birds were found belong to four species of the genus Argos. One of which A. reflexus is reported for the first time for Iraq. Some informations regarding the infestation rate, intensity and some biological data are provided.

This paper included the study of Al-Rahimawi drainage basin, one of the watersheds in the Iraqi southern desert. It represents one of the hydro-geomorphological systems so-called Lower Valleys Region, according to the geomorphological division of Iraq. A set of geomorphometric parameters were used for the morphological characteristics of the Al-Rahimawi watershed, which gave precise consequences about this valley's geomorphological features and the erosive phase. The parameters used in this study are the circulatory ratio (RC), form factor (Ff), elongation ratio (Re), compactness factor (CC ), lemniscate ratio (k), and length/width ratio (R/W). In addition to using the digital elevation model (DEM) type SRTM and the satellite image of th

The soil acari fauna of Citrus orchards of Baghdad in Jadiriya area was studied in a total
of forty-eight samples. Twenty-two species were recorded during the present study of which
eight species were first records to Iraq. The ordinal composition of the soil acari fauna was
predominantly Mesostigmata.
This fauna represents diverse trophic groups. The most abundant groups were the
predacious and the Microphytophagus, while the less abundant groups were the predacious/
Microphytophagus, Macrophytophagus, and Panaphytophagus. The most abundant and
frequent species were Rhizoglyphus sp. Tyrophagus putrescentiea (Scrank), Pachylaelaps
longisetis Halbt. and Stratiolaelaps miles Berl.

This work includes the geographical distribution variation and notes for the habitat of Iraqi blind snakes Leptotyphlops macrorhynehus. Typhlops braminus, and Typhlops vermicularis. A key was also given for the identification of these three snakes.

    The aim of the current study is to demonstrate the effect of honey on the sperms characteristics (sperm concentration, sperm motility, grade of activity and sperm normal morphology) as well as pregnancy rate in mice. Sperms were obtained from caudal epididymis of male mice and prepared by adding10% of honey to the IVF medium using direct sperms activation technique for 30 minute incubation period before artificial insemination.

    The study revealed a significant (P > 0.05) increase in active sperm motility (grade A and grade B) 49% and pregnancy rate 53.3% in female mice artificially inseminated with sperms. On the other hand, there were no significant differences in sperm con

The article presents the results of studying the conchological variability of the terrestrial mollusk Chondrulopsina fedtschenkoi (Ancey, 1886), known to occur in three regions of the Zaravshan Range (Central Asia): the Urgutsay Gorge, the vicinity of the Gissarak Reservoir and the Ingichka-Irmak Gorge. Conchological variability was determined based on statistical analysis. The climate of the three regions is different, and environmental factors have led to changes in the mollusk shell. The shells have changed in response to environmental factors, these are their adaptive traits for survival; the variability of conchological features is also reflected in the color of the shell, and the intensive development of the color of the shell in m

New data on jumping spiders (Salticidae) and tangle-web spiders (Theridiidae) of Armenia are provided on the basis of recently collected specimens in various regions of Armenia. One species, Ballus rufipes (Simon, 1868) is recorded as new to the Caucasus Region, in addition to the following species: Neon reticulatus (Blackwall, 1853), Pellenes brevis (Simon, 1868), Salticus scenicus (Clerck, 1757) and Synageles dalmaticus (Keyserling, 1863) that belong to a family Salticidae, are recorded in Armenia for the first time.
A further 7 species of Theridiidae are recorded in Armenia for the first time Kochiura aulica (C. L. Koch, 1838), Steatoda albomaculata (De Geer, 1778), Steatoda bipunctata (Linnaeus, 1758), Steatoda castanea Clerk, 175

The Red Palm Weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier, 1790) is a devastating invasive pest of palm trees, invading the Iraqi date palm tree in 2015 for the first time in Safwan county, Basrah province. The Red Palm weevil has been categorized as a quarantine pest of date palm trees worldwide. In this study, a five years monitoring program has been achieved by scouting the invasive pest RPW population in Safwan county by using visual sampling and Pheromone baited traps.
The results indicated that the number of infested palms, increased from 12 trees in 2015 to 111 in 16 orchards in 2016. The number of the infested palms was minimized to 3 trees in the county in 2019 due to the management protocol of the Ministry of Agriculture

Parasitological investigation of piscivorous birds in Al-Hammar marsh south of Iraq during December-February 2004 and December 2005 were revealed that water birds infected with five nematode species, which belong to three different superfamilies, Desmidocercella numidica (Seurat, 1920) (Superfamily: Aproctoidea) from three piscivorous birds including Grey heron Ardea cinerea, Bittern Botaurusstellaris, and small white heron Ardeola ralloides; Avioserpens sp. 1 and Avioserpens sp. 2 (Superfamily: Dracunculoidea) from small bittern Ixobrychus minutus and black glossy ibis Plegadisfalcinellus respectively; Baruscapillaria sp. and Baruscapillarinae gen. sp. (Sup

    In this work, the spirurid nematode Hartertia gallinarum was reported in the intestine of the spotted sandgrouse, Pterocles senegallus, collected in three different locations: Ga'ara Depression, Iraqi Western Desert, Zurbatiyah and Al-Attariyah, Middle of Iraq. Description and measurements of the nematode were given. The role of termites in the infection of P. senegallus with H. gallinarum was discussed. Occurrence of H. gallinarum in P. senegallus represents a new host record.

In this study an illustrated key for the identification of the Iraqi species of the genus Chalcophorella Kerr. is given with information about general distribution for each species. Information is also given about period of collection, plants on which the specimens were collected. The real host plant if they are available and known are also given referring to the previous works.

This work is the first study of the Curculionoidea fauna from Kurdistan region of Iraq, based on the intensive survey in different localities of Kurdistan from March 2016 to November 2017. In total, 41 species belonging to 28 genera, 21 tribes and 3 families were collected and identified, including 25 species newly recorded for the Iraqi fauna.

General distribution, collecting localities and methods, with plant association data for each species are given.

This work presents external morphological study of the leafhopper Empoasca decedens
Paoli, 1932 particularly male genitalia, which were dissected and illustrated.
The genus Empoasca Walsh (Typhlocybinae: Empoascini) contains small, slender, fragile
and generally green leafhoppers. The overall length ranges from 3-3.5 mm. Members of this
genus are charachterized by their uniformly green color, inner and outer apical cells of
forewing not attaining wing apex, second and third apical cells are sessile or triangular or
even short stalked, submarginal vein of hindwing extends around wing apex and turned
beneath costal margin, apical thirds of tibiae and tarsal segments including claws are
prominently green while other

A study of some mite species of alfalfa. wheat, and barley was conducted in central Iraq.
The mites were extracted using a tullgren funnel method. Twelve species were recorded. 10 of
them belong to suborder Trombidiformes and 2 belong to suborder Sarcoptiforms. Three
mites, Irnpar(pes hystricinus, Scutacarus longitarsus, and Rhizoglyphus echin opus are new
records for Iraqi mite fauna, and 11 are new host records in alfalfa soil.

Eleven species of parasitic insects were recovered from puparia of house fly Musca domestica L. developing in animal dung in Baghdad during 1985-1987. Of the parasites obtained, representatives were found in five families of Hymenoptera and one family of Coleoptera. The most prevalent parasites were Spalangia cameroni Perkins, S. nigroaenea Curtis and S. endius Walk. Average parasitism for the two year was 11.30 %, the highest number of parasitism occurred in May and October.

Convolvulus arvensis L., 1753 (Solanales, Convolvulaceae) is a cosmopolitan polymorphic perennial herb and one of 15 noxious crop weeds. The species has notable phenoplasticity among its populations. This study aimed to assess phenoplasticity in 20 morphologically distinct populations collected from the same habitat in Egypt to understand this feature in terms of chromosome number and karyotyping. A total of 55 morphological characters were studied, and the similarity values were assessed using Jaccard’s similarity coefficient. The morphological characters were distinguished into five groups with variations in chromosome counting and karyotyping. Accordingly, they were treated as genotypes. These genotypes include two distinct ploidy l

    Coral reef area in northwest of the Arabian Gulf was investigated for mineralogy and geochemistry to throw lights on such unique Iraqi Marine Environment; six specimens of two main species of coral reefs, Platygyra pini Chevalier, 1975 and Octocoral Menella were collected at two sites. While eight samples of the surrounding sediments are chosen from other two sites. The mineralogy is determined by XRD, and reveals that calcite, low magnesium-calcite, and aragonite are the main minerals that comprise the Octocoral Menella in site 1, whilst aragonite and calcite are dominate in the P. pini coral reef at site 4.

    The non–carbonate fractions indicate that thes

When the guard honey bees, Apis mellifera L., form a clump at the hive entrance or on the flight board, the oriental hornet, Vespa orientails L., either creeps toward the clump or hovers over it in order to take a bee. Once the hornet creeps, only few bees facing the hornet become alert, rock their heads and antennae, open their wings, and take a posture of defense. The rest of the clump stays listless without any signal of concern. However, the clump stays dense and the defending bees do not detach themselves neither from the rest of the clump nor from each other. For this reason, it is very difficult for the hornet to grab a bee unless the latter makes a “mistake” by detaching herself from other adjacent bees. If the hornet grabs s

    Specimens of the sesarmid crab Nanonsesarma sarii  (Naderloo and Türkay 2009) were    collected from the intertidal zone of Khor Al-Zubair, Basrah, Iraq 2012 far from the Arabian Gulf coasts. Morphological features of this species are highlighted and a figure is provided. 

Based on collections made during March to September 2012. A totals of 58 species belong to 33 genera were identified from extra north to extra south of Erbil governorate, among them 30 species are registered as a new record to flora of Iraq. Most attention was paid to the most common and abundant lichens that present almost in most locations, which were Collema cristatum, Diploschistes scruposus, Lecanora dispersa, Lecanora murales, Pertusaria flavicunda, Placidium lacinulatum, Thelomma californicum and Verrucaria Maura.

Larval instar duration of the house fly Musca domesticais influenced by the application of GHA and precocine. Topical use of ug / ul of JHA KID 183 prolonge Juvenile period compared to the control. On the contrary, application of ug / ul of precocine decreased it. Application of both substances has no effect. The emergence inhibitors were also influenced by such treatments. It reached 52.39% by the use of JHA, (-14.28%) by the use of precocine.

Among a collection of leafhoppers from Erbil Province in Kurdistan/Iraq, a new species of the genus Arboridia Zakhvatkin, 1946 was designated and described here as a new species  to  the science. The erection of this species was mainly built on the external characters included the male genitalia. Sites and dates of collections so as the host-plants were verified.

Vagrancy is a less contrived part in the context of bird migration; thus, observing the vagrancy pattern of immigrants helps to discover changes in distribution, range shifting, and range expansion of the bird species. It is critical to look after the determinants and patterns of vagrancy for effective conservation measures for all migratory bird species, including threatened pelican species, since their inland migration routes are understudied in India. Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus Linnaeus, 1758 (Pelecaniformes, Pelecanidae) is one of the winter visitors to India, but its wintering range in India is not addressed adequately. This communication provides documentation of the sighting of a Great White Pelican at Nelapattu Bir

An attempt was made to determine the insect parasites of cockroaches in Iraq. As a result of this survey three species of Hymenoptera representing two separate families, which have been reared from ootheca of cockroaches were recovered. These were: Evania dimidiata Fabricius, Evania appendigaster (Linnaeus) (Evaniidae) and Anastatus longicornis sp. n. (Eupelmidae) which described here as a new species from Iraq.

This investigation was designed to determine the occurrence of intestinal parasites in fresh
vegetables(Apium graveolense, Lepidium aucheri and Allium porrum), from different markets
as a primary effort in Iraq. Eight genera and species of intestinal parasites appear in
vegetables, they were as follow: Echinococcus sp. 50%,Oxyuris equi 45%,Habronema sp.
45%,Parascaris equroum 31.6%,Strongyloides westrei 30%,Toxocara sp. 18.3%,Ascaris
lumbricoides 11.6% and Hymenolepis sp. 8.3% .The scarcity of fresh water has meant that
urban gardeners are increasingly irrigating their plots with wastewater. This poses a threat to
public health in addition of roaming dogs in open farms. All studied areas showed high rates
of eggs

This study presents a comprehensive list of the freshwater and marine bivalves distributed in Iraq. A total of 51 species were recorded, and distributed as: 14 freshwater species, and 37 marine species, these species belonging to 25 families, all available remarks on the distribution, taxonomy, and nomenclature of these species were given. This study included the recently collected specimens along with those previously studied and recorded in Iraq.

The study aims to identify the third instar larvae of fly species (Order : Diptera) feeding on carcasses (Fishes and Rabbits). Two families (Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae), were recorded with highest rate in Calliphoridae species. The following species had been registered in accordance with their prevalence respectively; Calliphora vicina Rob.-Desvoidy, Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedmann), Chrysomy megacephala (Fabricius), Sarcophaga sp. and Lucilia sericata (Meigen). The highest rate has been registered Calliphora vicina during February, November, December and January at rate 100%, the larvae of this fly have not been observed during July, August, September and October. The highest rate of Ch

Keys to four genera and twelve species of the subfamily Phlaeothripinae (Phlaeothripidae) were constructed, these are: Haplothrips; Karnyothrips; Phlaeothrips; and Dolicholepta ,and the species are: Haplothrips cerealis Priesner; Haplothrips tritici kurdjumov, Haplothrips hukkineni Priesner; Haplothrips subtilissimus (Haliday) ؛ Haplothrips reuteri Karny; Haplothrips jasonis Priesner; Haplothrips sallloumensis Priesner ; Haplothrips pharao Priesner ; Phlaeothrips sycomri Priesner ; Karnyothrips flavipus (Jones); Karnyothrips melaleucus (Bagnall) ; Dolicholepta micrurus (Bagnall). These were collected from Baghdad