LIST OF INSECTS ASSOCIATED WITH MACROFUNGI IN TIKRIT CITY , SALAHADIN GOVERNORATE , IRAQ

In this survey, there are 14 species belonging to 14 genera, nine families and two orders, collected on Macrofungi from Tikrit city, Salahadin Governorate, North Central of Iraq. The members of Coleoptera were more abundant than flies on Macrofungi. The family of Ciidae and Leiodidae (Order, Coleoptera), Mycetophilidae (Order, Diptera), and 6 species are recorded for the first time for insect fauna of Iraq.

Fungi being rich in proteins and carbohydrates (Gooday, 1995), as well they have a large amounts of biologically important elements, such as phosphorous and nitrogen (Watkinson et al., 2006), which may speed up the growth of the larvae of beetles (Martin, 1979).On the other hand, basidiomes may as well contain high concentrations of toxins, for example: phenols, pyrones, and heterocyclic nitrogen complexes; therefore, there is great selective pressure for coleopteran members to develop mechanisms to avoid intoxication against these substances, while using them as sources of food or habitat (Martin, 1979).
The two most important mycophagous insect orders: Diptera (Hackmann and Meinander, 1979) and Coleoptera (Hammond and Lawrence, 1989); the larvae of first order are dominant on the mushroom, especially the Sciaridae.Although they are wide food spectra, and cause damage to mushroom production in the world (Shin et al., 2012).Donisthorpe (1935) was the first author to list the proper names of the fungi with which beetles associate.Adult and larval stages can be fungivorous or mycophagous; in the DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26842/binhm.7.2018.15.1.0041superfamily Staphylinoidea, the following families include mycophagous species: Ptiliidae, Leiodidae, Staphylinidae and possibly Agyrtidae; probably many thousands of coleopteran species are exclusively mycophagous; much remains to be revealed, particularly in the tropical species, including the precise food source of at lesser facultative fungus-feeders, and dead-wood-associated beetles (Hammond and Lawrence, 1989).
In Iraq, the insect fauna on fungi are unknown; therefore this study is proposed to identify the insects associated with Macrofungi.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The adult insects were collected by different tools: aerial net (flies), aspirator (small beetles) and forceps (big and small size beetles) from Tikrit city, Salahadin governorate, north of central Iraq, during the period from November 2016 to March 2017.
Also the identification of the current specimens was assured by comparison with collection of the Iraq Natural History Research Center and Museum, University of Baghdad.
The new recorded species are deposited in the collection of Entomology and Invertebrates Department, Iraq Natural History Research Center and Museum.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
During the current investigation, there are 14 species belonging to 14 genera, nine families and two orders were identified; the beetles were the most abundant, especially the family of Staphylinidae compared with flies associated with Macrofungi.
The list of species, distribution and with a short description of new records given below: The members of Ciidae are characterized by: head bent to downward or not clearly if it seen from above, with an obviously fronto-clypeal ridge, this is in male sometimes forming a tubercles or horns.Antennae is with 8-10 segments, with usually the last three segmented composing a club; pronotum somewhat hooded head from above; outer edge of tibiae often with spines.Previously, this family was not recorded in Iraq.(Pic, 1917) Materials Examined (3♂♂ specimens): Al-Difsha from Al-Alam district, 11.XII.2016.

Diagnosis:
The male (Pl. 1) is with slightly dark brown color (Cis chinensis Lawrence, 1991 with obviously blackish brown color also the antennae and legs are light brown); anterior margin of front is composed of four strongly and elevated teeth; antennae with 10 segments, anterior margin of pronotum with two distinct horns; body length 2.1 mm.

(4)Family, Leiodidae
According to Newton (2016), this family is a worldwide distribution, moderately large and diverse group of some 4,135 species belonging to 374 genera organized into 6 subfamilies and 18 tribes; the species of these beetles are commonly called "round fungus beetles" because they have globular shape of many species, although some members are with more elongated shaped; generally, these beetles are small or very small beetles having body less than 10 mm in length; antennae clubbed shaped in most species.Adults and larvae of these beetles generally feed on fungi in rotting plant or animal material.

Ptomaphagus Hellwig, 1795
Materials Examined (2♂♂ specimens): Al-Difsha Farm, Al-Alam district, 11.XII.2016.Distribution: Holarctic region, North Oriental and North Neotropical (Wang et al., 2016); this genus is registered for the first time in Iraq, however, the specimen identified as Tachinus sp., because we need more additional specimens to recognize the species.Diagnosis: Genus of Ptomaphagus Hellwig, 1795 is determined by: eight segment of antenna smaller than seven and nine segments; head directly behind the compound eyes sharply angled, broader than the anterior margin of pronotum; pronotum and elytra with a microsculpture that consist of distinct networks.Fore tarsi dilated in male, mid coxae divided by a process of the Mesosternum (Pl.3).

Phloeopora corticalis
Distribution: West Palaearctic region (Assing and Schülke, 2006).Europe: Turkey, Cyprus, Canary Islands and Madeira; Africa: Algeria and Morocco (Bordon, 2010); this species is registered for the first time in Iraq.

Diagnosis:
Head is constricted at posterior margin forming a neck, somewhat narrower compared with anterior part of pronotum; body is with parallel sides; body surface from above with fine and densely punctures, according to Webster et al. (2012) this species with less pubescences especially on pronotum and more glossy than related species, body length 3.1 mm (Pl.4).

(B) Order, Diptera (1)Family, Mycetophilidae
Mycetophilids are species of small fungus-gnats, generally with a combination of yellow, brown and black colors in adults (Hutson et al., 1980).Adults are found in shady, damp woods, tunnels and root part of trees, and are especially common in cavities under tree roots; larvae usually feed on the mycelium and sporophores penetrating hyphae; but there are many species diverging biology, being associated with decaying organic matter (Hutson et al., 1980;Ševčík, 2010).
Adults of this family are determined by having wings that consist of 9 longitudinal veins / branches attainment the wing margin.Delicate, humped-back flies; with long, threadlike antennae and all apex of tibia with a pair spurs (Hutson et al., 1980).Distribution: Holarctic region (Zaitzev, 1989).Diagnosis: The species of this genus are small, 1.5-3 mm in length; color bright brown; antennae relatively long also with elongated legs compared with the body.Mesepimeron is without any black dot, strong bristles absent on Mesanepisternum; costa clearly produced beyond the tip of r 5 (Pl.6).In our investigation, the specimen is identified as Anatella sp., because we need more information about identification key to species about this genus to recognize the species.