Bulletin of the Iraq Natural History Museum

Muscid flies Musca domestica L., M. biseta Hough, M. crassirostris Stein, M. sorbens
Wied., Muscina stabulans (Fallen), Atherigona orientalis Schiner, Atherigona sp. and
Limnophora quaterna (Loew) were captured by using yellow sticky traps from different
provinces of Iraq during November 2010. The results showed the highest percentage of all
collected species were recorded in Babylon (48.33%), while the lowest percentage was
observed in Baghdad (4.88%). Musca domestica was the predominant species and was ranked
first in overall prevalence in all provinces studies, while M. biseta was the lowest abundant
species.

The predator Melanthrips pallidior Priesner regarded as a new record in Baghdad. The
specimens were collected from alfalfa field during April 2010 to April 2011 in Abu-Gharib.
Morphological characters of different body parts were studied and compared with other
specimens by using taxonomic keys.

A survey of entomopathogenic and other opportunistic fungi isolated from soil samples
collected from insect hibernation sites in different habitats in Kurdistan region of Iraq was
carried out during October to December 2009. By using dilution plate method, two
entomopathogenic species (Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill.and Isaria javanica (Friedrichs
& Bally) Samson & Hywel-Jones) were detected with isolation percentage (38.46%) each.
Other opportunistic fungi such as Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus flavus, A.niger,
Penicillium glabrum, P. digitatum, Rhizopus stolonifer and Syncephalastratum racemosum
were also isolated. B. bassiana was the most virulent fungus and showed complete mortality
(100%) on two aphid species Hyalopterus pruni Geoff. and Aphis pomi De Greer after six
days of inoculation, followed by I.javanica with 66.67% and 75.59% mortality respectively. I.
javanica was isolated for the first time from Iraq. A brief description along with photographs
is provided for the newly recorded species.
Key words: Entomopathogenic fungi, Soil, Iraq

Examining of passeriform birds collected in Baghdad area revealed presence of seven
species of blood parasites belonging to three genera, Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon, and
Plasmodium. Records of microfilariae (larval nematodes) were also indicated. Results showed
wide distribution of Plasmodium relictum among passerine hosts.