An annotated taxonomic catalogue of the jewel beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) of Iran is given. Original descriptions and recent revisionary or catalogue data are included along with the distribution, both within and outside of Iran, ecological data and host plant associations, junior synonyms, and comments. A complete bibliography completes the catalogue. In total 428 species and 52 subspecies of jewel beetles belonging to 6 subfamilies (Julodinae, Polycestinae, Galbellinae, Chrysochroinae, Buprestinae, and Agrilinae), 20 tribes, and 38 genera are known from Iran including doubtful records and 4 nomina nuda. It is likely that the number of jewel beetle species from Iran will be between 460-480 and possibly even more species.

The superfamily Chalcidoidea (Insecta, Hymenoptera) contains in excess of 26,000 described species worldwide, but with an estimated total diversity of more than 500,000 species the vast majority of species have yet to be discovered and described. Most chalcidoid species are parasitoids of hosts in at least 12 different insect orders, attacking the egg, larval or pupal stages, though phytophagy and other life cycles and hosts are known. Iran is the 18th largest country in the world and has a rich and diverse insect fauna, including Chalcidoidea. It is extremely interesting from a biogeographic point of view, and a paradise for an entomologist. This book summarizes the results of all prior research concerning species diversity of Iranian Chalcidoidea, including host records and distribution records by province in Iran as well as world distribution by country for 1,351 species of Chalcidoidea recorded from Iran through the end of 2019.

Iran is in the Near East, located between longitudes E 44?02? and 63?20? and latitudes N 25?00? and 39?47?; bordered to the north by the Caspian Sea, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan; to the east by Afghanistan and Pakistan; to the south by the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman; and to the west by Iraq and Turkey. It occupies 1,648,195km2, of which 14% is arable land, 8% forest, 47% natural (i.e. non-arable) pasture and 31% varied environment (Yale et al. 2001). The list contains all species of Coccoidea recorded up to March, 2013 and includes 275 species in 113 genera and 13 families. This present checklist is intended to facilitate access to the most recent data on Iranian Coccoidea for taxonomists and to update the recorded species from Iran. Only records in which Iran is specifically mentioned are cited. New records from Iran are marked with asterisks and the following 32 species are currently only known from Iran.