J Insect Biodivers Syst 04(2): 123–129 ISSN: 2423-8112 JOURNAL OF INSECT BIODIVERSITY AND SYSTEMATICS Research Article http://jibs.modares.ac.ir http://zoobank.org/References/75E05673-15DB-4682-A5CF-4C3492D177AD Dermestidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) of Niavaran Museum with a new record for Iran Shima Shahrabi1, Samin Seddigh2*, Bita Sodaie1 and Marcin Kadej3 1 Department of Archaeology, College of human Science, Varamin-Pishva Branch, Islamic Azad University, Varamin, Iran. 2 Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, Varamin-Pishva Branch, Islamic Azad University, Varamin, Iran. 3 Department of Invertebrate Biology, Evolution and Conservation, University of Wrocław, Poland. ABSTRACT. Museum collections are national assets of any country and also are very susceptible to pest damage. Moreover pests in a museum, library or archive environment can cause severe damage to highly valuable and irreplaceable materials. Hence, constantly monitoring of the collections against pest activity is essential in museums. Dermestidae family is known as one of serious pests in the museum collections which feed on various products and cause high infestation. In current study, we present the results of monitoring Received: of all parts of two buildings of The Niavaran Palace Complex, including the 22 March, 2018 private library and Ahmad Shahi Pavilion in Tehran, Iran. The following Accepted: species of the dermestids have been collected and recorded for the first time 02 October, 2018 from Tehran and Niavaran Museum: Thylodrias contractus Motschulsky, 1839, Attagenus lobatus Rosenhauer, 1856, Anthrenus (Anthrenops) coloratus Reitter, Published: 1881, A. (Anthrenus) picturatus picturatus Solsky, 1876. Moreover, Thylodrias 07 October, 2018 contractus Motschulsky, 1839 is recorded for the first time from Iran. Subject Editor: Hiva Naserzadeh Key words: Dermestidae, Iran, New record, Niavaran museum Citation: Shahrabi, Sh., Seddigh, S., Sodaie, B. & Kadej, M. (2018) Dermestidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) of Niavaran Museum with a new record for Iran. Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics, 4 (2), 123–129. Introduction Dermestidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) is a Motschulsky, 1839. But in most cases the diverse family with about 1500 cosmopolitan adults do not feed or they may feed on species worldwide (Háva, 2015b). pollen and nectar (Peacock, 1993). Dermestids have a variable habitats; their Dermestidae (mainly larvae) can feed on larvae feed mainly on animal materials and various on a variety of dead animals and dead insects, and few are able to live partly animal products, such as skeletons, skins, or entirely on vegetable material (i.e. animal hair, feathers, natural fibers, dead Trogoderma granarium Everts, 1989, (Kadej, insects; occasionally they feed on stored 2012a)). Sometimes the adults are found in plants’ material such as certain spices and the same habitats as the larvae and feed on grains. For this reason some dermestids are the same materials like it is in case of classified as household and museum pests Dermestes Linnaeus, 1758 and Thylodrias and are well-known all over the world as Corresponding author: Samin Seddigh, E-mail: [email protected] Copyright © 2018, Shahrabi et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. 124 New dermestid record of Iran pests of stored woolen fabrics and other Currently it comprises several buildings materials (Hinton, 1945; Aitken, 1975; Veer et and a museum including: Niavaran Palace al., 1996; Black, 2004; Feroz et al., 2015). Some Museum (completed in 1968), Ahmad of the species are associated with carcasses Shahi Pavilion (or Kushk-e Ahmad-Shahi), and for this reason might be useful in Sahebqaraniyeh Palace (from the time of criminal investigations or in forensic Nasir al-Din Shah of Qajar dynasty), Jahan entomology (Catts & Goff, 1992; Peacock, Nama museum and the private library, and 1993). Many dermestid species are also used other cultural, historical and natural in taxidermy and by natural history attractions including the Blue Hall, Private museums to clean animal skeletons (Ghahari Cinema, Jahan Nama Gallery, and & Háva, 2017). Niavaran Garden. In the present paper we Till date, one hundred twenty three list the species of Dermestidae that have species representing 12 genera (Table 1) been found indoors of two buildings of belonging to the family Dermestidae have Niavaran Place Complex (The library and been reported from Iran. The Ahmad Shahi Pavilion). Table 1. The List of Dermestidae genera which are found in Iran. Index Genus References Háva & Kalík, 1999; Háva, 2007; Háva & Herrmann, 2011; 1 Dermestes Linnaeus, 1758 Bulak et al., 2013 2 Rhopalosilpha Arrow, 1929 Háva, 2007, 2015b 3 Thorictus Germar, 1834 Háva, 2007, 2015a; Zhantiev, 2011 Mroczkowski, 1968; Modarres Awal, 1997; Tezcan et al., 2004; 4 Attagenus Latreille, 1802 Zhantiev, 2005; Háva, 2007; Háva & Herrmann, 2011 5 Paranovelsis Casey, 1900 Háva & Herrmann, 2010; Háva et al., 2013a; Háva et al., 2014 Zhantiev, 1976; Háva, 2007, 2009; Herrmann et al., 2010; 6 Anthrenus Geoffroy, 1762 Kadej & Háva, 2011; Háva et al., 2015 7 Ctesias Stephens, 1830 Háva, 2005; Háva et al., 2014 Globicornis Latreille [in Mroczkowski, 1968; Zhantiev, 1976; Háva, 2007 8 Cuvier, 1829] 9 Hirtomegatoma Pic, 1931 Háva, 2007 10 Megatoma Herbst, 1791 Mroczkowski, 1962 Phradonoma Jacquelin du Tezcan et al., 2004; Háva, 2006, 2007; Herrmann & Háva, 11 Val, 1859 2008; Bulak et al., 2013 Modarres Awal, 1997; Abivardi, 2001; Khormali et al., 2002; 12 Trogoderma Dejean, 1821 Háva, 2007; Háva & Herrmann, 2011; Mehrabadi et al., 2011; Bulak et al., 2013; Forghani & Marouf, 2015 Material and methods Study area The private library is located in the eastern This investigation was carried out in two part of the Palace, in two floors and one buildings of Niavaran palace complex underground floor in a 770 square meter including private library and Ahmad Shahi area. This library consists of about 23,000 pavilion. Ahmad Shahi covers an area of 800 books, and more than 350 artifacts and square meters in two stories with ornamental paintings. All the samples were collected items made of different materials. from all parts of these two buildings. Shahrabi et al. 125 Data collection Remark: First record for Iran. Insect samples were collected from all the Subfamily Attageninae Laporte de items in the hall including decorative Castelnau, 1840 items, furniture, carpets, signs, curtains, clothes, and also from the surface of the Tribe: Attagenini Laporte de Castelnau, 1840 earth precisely in June and July 2017. The Genus: Attagenus Latreille, 1802 specimens were collected by hand or by Attagenus lobatus Rosenhauer, 1856 using the aspirator. Trapping was carried Distribution in Iran: Khuzestan (Modarres out simultaneously during sampling. Awal, 1997), references with no specific Yellow and blue sticky cards and light locality given (Mroczkowski, 1968, traps were used for trapping. Insects Zhantiev, 1976; Háva, 2003a, 2007, 2015b). collected from museum palaces were kept in separate glasses of 96% ethanol and Distribution outside Iran: Holarctic (Háva, were coded. All the specimens were 2015b). Centralasiatic-Europeo Mediterranean; transferred to Entomology Laboratory of this species was introduced to the USA Varamin-Pishva Branch, Islamic Azad (Háva et al., 2011; Háva et al., 2013b). University. Identification down to species Remark: This species feeds on stored level has been done by Dr. Marcin Kadej products (Modarres Awal, 1997). First (University of Wrocław, Poland). record for Tehran province. Results Subfamily: Megatominae Leach, 1815 In total, four species of Dermestidae, the Tribe: Anthrenini Gistel, 1848 representatives of three genera have been Genus: Anthrenus Geoffroy, 1762 collected from Niavaran Museum, Tehran. Anthrenus (Anthrenops) coloratus Reitter, Thylodrias contractus Motschulsky, 1839 is 1881 newly recorded for Iran. The list of species is given below. Distribution in Iran: Fars (Jahrom, Shiraz) (Karami et al., 2004), Sistan and Subfamily: Trinodinae Casey, 1900 Baluchestan (Nikshahr) (Herrmann et al., Tribe: Thylodriini Semenov-Tian-Shanskiy, 2010), references with no specific locality 1909 given (Herrmann et al., 2010; Bulak et al., Genus: Thylodrias Motschulsky, 1839 2013; Háva, 2015b). Thylodrias contractus Motschulsky, 1839 Distribution outside Iran: Holarctic (Háva, Diagnosis. 2.0-3.0 mm in length. Thinly 2015b), Tajikistan; Turano-Europeo- covered with short, pale hairs-clubbed, 9- Mediterranean species with extension to segmented antennae uniform in thickness Canary Islands, USA (Beal, 1998; Háva, along length. Median ocellus between 2003b, 2007). compound eyes. In Male: Resting elytra Remark: First record for Tehran province. meet at along top third of length, then diverge to reveal abdomen. Long narrow Anthrenus (Anthrenus) picturatus picturatus body with thin appendages. Females are Solsky, 1876 wingless with larviform body. Larvae are Distribution in Iran: Northern Iran about 3.0 mm in length with single (Mroczkowski, 1962), references with no transverse row of hairs across the dorsum specific locality given (Tezcan et al., 2004; at each segment (Mertins, 1981). Háva, 2007; 2015b; Herrmann et al., 2010; Chorotype: worldwide (Nardi & Háva, Bulak et al., 2013). 2013). 126 New dermestid record of Iran Distribution outside Iran: