Bulletin of the Iraq Natural History Museum

A study of the Torymid collection of Iraq. resulted in undescribed species of the genus
Liodontonierus Gah. L. longicorpus sp. n. with 2 figures.

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.

Aniera desert/cola was found new to science and to the Iraqi fauna. The description was
mainly based on external features and male genit

Several specimens of the avocet, Recurvirostra avocetta L. are found infected with
Himantocestus gigantivcus sp. nov. ( Cestoda , Diploposthidae) . This cestode is related to H.
blanksoni Ukoli 1965 but easily differentiated from it in having longer and wider strobila,
larger size of testes but lesser in number, cirrus situated in the middle of mature segment
histead of anterior third and slightly posterior to the middle in gravid segment instead of the
middle , ovary and vitelline gland are larger , and the uterus has more branches.

Trialeurodes irakensis sp. n. is describe and illustrated from Iraq. T.vaporariorurn (westwood)
is reported and for the first time for the Iraqi fauna. A ke to species of Trialeurodes found in
Iraq is presented.

Phenomena of an abnormal genitalia was among some specimens of Cicindela aulica Dej.
Collected from Iraq. The fore tarsi of male were asymmetrical having its basal three segments
dilated and clothed beneath with fine bristles as in normal male. While those of the right leg
were found simple as in normal females. Dissection of the genialia of these specimens
showed that they were of two types of both male and female structures.

Some aspects of population dynamics of both corbicula species inhabiting intertidal zone of
shatt al-Arab are described. These informations are explained in accordance with the possible
occurrence of competition between the two related species.

The aim of this study is to calculate the ene expenditure from fatty substance contents of the
frog. Rana ridibunda during its hibernation. It was found that, almost, all frogs enter
hibernation during the last week of December and emerge from hibernation during the first
week of March. Hence, January and February are considered the hibernation period.
December is the pre-hibernation period and March is the post-hibernation period. The
reduction in percent of body lipid during the hibernation period was 4.8% in males and 7.7%
in females. The reduction in percent of lipid of fat bodies during the hibernation period was
2.758% in males and 0.733% in females.
The calorific value of R. ridibunda lipid amounted to 12338.5 cal/gm. Therefore, energy loss
from lipid content of body tissue was 10.04 cal/gm! day in males and 16.10 cal/gm! day in
females. Energy loss from fat bodies during hibernation was 5.77 cal/gm of mass in males and
1.53 cal/gm of mass in females. The total energy losses during hibernation for R. ridibunda. in
Baghdad. on dry weight basis, averaged 15.81 cal/gm! day in males and 17.63 cal/gm! day in
females.

This work deals with the description of histopathological effects of the nematode Hartertia
gallinarurn Theiler. 1919 on the digestive system of the seesee partridge collected from Qa’ra
area in the western desert district of Iraq. along with some notes on intensity fluctuation of the
parasite according to the seasons. It is found that the major effects of the nematode are
necrosis and fibrosis of gizzard: granulomatous reaction. necrosis and mononuclear
infiltration of proventriculus: damage of mucosal lining of intestine and lymphocytic
infiltration of liver.

Five species of Trogoderma Berthold are reported from Iraq. These are: I inclus,n LeCont. T.
granarium Everts, T. variable Ballion. I. bactrianum Zantiev and T. irroraturn Reitter. A key
to the species is presented, with redeseriptions and illustrations of all species.

It was found that Pkvtomyza horticola Goureau infested 36 plants belonging to 11 families of
dicotyledons. only two of which belong to Monocotyledons. Most of plants species are from
compositae and Cruciferae families.

Examination of 241 specimens of two bee-eater species, Merops apiaster and Merops
superciliosus persicus reveal recording of Haemoproteus meropis (Zagar, 1945) emend.
Bennett, 1978 and H. manwelli Bennett, 1978 for the first time in Iraq. A new species
Haemoproteus hudaidensis sp. nov. is described. Microfilariae are also infected the two host
species. The results are discussed with the pertinent literature and the necessary comparision
of morphometric measurements of the recorded parasites with that previously reported is
provided along with a taxonomic key including the newly described haemoproteid.

The present work initiated to eaIuate the efficiency of Al-Rustamivah sewage treatment plant
as reflected by the quality of final effluent that is thrown to Di ala river. Weekly samples of
wastewater and final effluent were collected between November 1994 and end of January
1995 and analyzed for different chemical and biological features. Results ha e inidicated that
Al-Rustamiyah sewage treatment plant could not be able efficiently to purify the raw sewage.
The mean values of suspended solids. BOD. COD Dichromate and Oil & grease effluents
were felt to pass standard limits (98.4. 92.8. 125.2 and 39.1 ppm. respectiel). The atherse
possible effects of pollution on Diuala equatic life hae been also discussed in respect to final
effluent quality.