Seira atlantica Negri, Pellecchia & Fanciulli, 2005: New record of Collembola (Entomobryidae: Seirinae) from alfalfa field in Iran

In the present study, Seira atlantica Negri, Pellecchia & Fanciulli, 2005 is recorded for the first time in Iran, up to date the species was known only from the type locality in Morocco. The specimens of S. atlantica were collected in alfalfa crops using insect net since the huge number of specimens were active underneath the skin of the newly emerged stems as well as in the crown of the plant. In plants holes created under the parenchyma of the stem surface were found, and subsequently small cavities were created under these holes. Therefore, it should be revealed if the species is introduced together with cultivars or is widely distributed in arid climate region. In the Middle-East eight Seira species have been registered, of which two distributed in Iran, Seira atlantica and Seira domestica Nicolet. Diagnosis of this species is updated in the frame of current taxonomy. Key words: Zanjan, distribution of species, Seira, Collembola