the family calliphoridae in the northwest of iran with a new record of the subfamily melanomyinae

This study investigated the blow flies of east azerbaijan and west azerbaijan provinces, iran, across natural habitats (forests and pasturelands), rural areas, fruit orchards, and livestock farms. sampling was conducted from may to october between 2017 and 2018 using an entomological net and malaise traps. additionally, specimens from the insect collection of professor hassan maleki milani (icphmm) in tabriz, iran, collected from the same provinces during 2013–2016, were examined. a total of 14 species from seven genera across four subfamilies were identified. notably, the subfamily melanomyinae and two species, melinda gentilis (robineau-desvoidy, 1830) and melinda viridicyanea (robineau-desvoidy, 1830) are reported for the first time from iran. based on the new classifications, the number of chaliphoridae species occurring in iran is as follows: 4 subfamilies, 8 genera, and 24 species. diagnostic characters of new records, distribution of species, as well as illustrations from the adult specimens, are given. the identification key for the subfamilies and genera of the blow flies in iran has also been presented.