Eremiaphila braueri Krauss, 1902

Abu-Dannoun, Omar & Katbeh-Bader, Ahmad, 2007, Mantodea of Jordan, Zootaxa 1617, pp. 43-56 : 46

Eremiaphila braueri Krauss, 1902

Distribution: Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sokotra, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

Material examined: (54) specimens: Al Azraq 27.X.97 (1M), 12.VI.99 (1N) (YUC); Al Azraq Wet Land Reserve 29.VIII.05 (1F, 1N); Al Harranah 14.VI.05 (1N), 16.V.05 (4N); Al Heeshah 30.III.05 (4N); Al Lajune 12.VII.05 (1N); Al Muwaqqar 14.VI.05 (2N), 20.VI.05 (7N), 26.VII.95 (3M), 5.IX.95 (1N); Al Qatranah 12.VII.05 (2N); Ar Rusayfah 11.V.96 (1N), 14.VI.05 (1N); Ash Shawbak 30.III.05 (1N), 29.V.91 (1M) (MUC); Ash Shawmary Reserve 30.VIII.05 (1N); As Swaqah 12.VII.05 (1N); At Tafilah 7.VIII.97 (1M); Awajan 16.III.95 (2N), 14.VI.05 (4N); Dana 30.IV.05 (2N); Ghrandal 9.VIII.97 (1M); Kawm Yajuz 9.VIII.04 (1M) Mu’ta 3.V.05 (2N) (MUC), Najel 30.III.05 (4N); Petra 23.V.05 (1M,2N); Wadi Rum 14.VI.2000 (2N), 5.X.05 (1M); Yajuz 14.VI.05 (1N).

Remarks: Eremiaphila braueri appears usually from March to October. It was found on sand or on small gray gravel. Individuals are fast runners and prey on ants. When they are disturbed they lower their body to touch the ground and spread their legs laterally. They appear to have an excellent ability to track moving ants and they were observed feeding on them in the eastern desert near Al Muwaqqar.