Ameles syriensis Giglio-Tos, 1915

Abu-Dannoun, Omar & Katbeh-Bader, Ahmad, 2007, Mantodea of Jordan, Zootaxa 1617, pp. 43-56 : 50-51

Ameles syriensis Giglio-Tos, 1915

Distribution: Jordan (New to Jordan), Syria and Turkey.

Material examined: (269) specimens: Ajlune 19.VIII.03 (1M); Al Ameer Hamza Forest 11.IX05 (2N); Ala’ll 26.IV.04 (3F,2M), 24.XII.2004 (2M); Al Al-Bayt University 9.III.05 (2 N); Al Bahhath 29.IX.04 (1N); Al Haqawa 31.V.05 (1N); Al Hudayb 1.IV.05 (1N); Al Husaeneyah 3.V.05 (1 N), Al Jubayhah 6.III.95 (1 N), 1.V.98 (1 M), 7.V.95 (1 M), 16.V. ?? (1), 16.VI.91 (1 M), 13.X.93 (1 F), 24.X.97 (1); Al Karak 7.X.96 (2) (MUC), 18.X.02 (1F, 1M) (MUC); Al Kashef 11.IV. 0 5 (1N, 1F); Al Muqabalayn 3.V.95 (1M); Amman 17.IV.99 (1M) ( JPUC), 11.X.92 (1), Anjara 27.IX.04 (1F,4M), 15.VIII.05 (4N), 11.IX.05 (2F,3M,3N), 4.X.05 (4F,3M,2N); Arida Road 16.II.05 (1N); Ar Rumman 17.I.05 (2N), 14.IX.04 (2N), 11.X.04 (1N); Assarow As Salt 27.I.04 (1N), 6.IV.04 (4N), 6.V.03 (1F), 18.V.03 (1M), 8.VI.03 (1F,1M), 10.VI.05 (1 F), 14.VI.05 (1) ootheca, (30 Nymph emerged on 29.VII.05), 22.VI.04 (1M), 26.VII.05 (1M); 6.VIII.05 (2N), 11.VIII.04 (1N), 19.VIII.03 (1M), 30.VIII.03 (1M), 18.IX.04 (1N), 1.X.04 (1M), 6.X.04 (2N,1F), 14.X.03 (3N); As Salt 14.X.85 (1), 24.X.93 (1), 28.X.97 (1M), 8.XI.04 (2N); Asubayhi 27.XII.04 (3N); Ayn Aqraba 8.IV.03 (4 N), 8.XI.04 (1N), Bader 11.IV.05 (1N,1F); Balila 17.I.05 (14N), 23.II.05 (4N); Beerayn 11.X.04 (1F,1M); Berqesh 7.X.04 (1N,1F,1M); Dana 12.VIII.03 (2N); Fahes 11.IV.05 (1N); Hummrit As Sahin 14.III.05 (5N,1F); Husban 1.XI.04 (2F), 7.XI.04 (1) ootheca (28 nymphs emerged on 26.1.04); Ibdir 12.I.05 (2N); Iraq Al Amir 5.VII.05 (1N); Irbid 10.V.95 (1M); Irhaba 7.X.04 (1F); Jarash 30.III.04 (1F), 12.V.83 (1 F), 14.V.96 (1N), 27.X.04 (1N); Jarash University 13.X.03 (1M); Jdaitta 1.X.03 (1F); Jordan Valley 22.X.92 (1M); Kharja 22.XII.04 (4N); Kufr An 22.XII.04 (2N); Kufr Jayiz 23.II.05 (9N), 21.III.05 (8N); Kufr Khall 11.IX.05 (1N); Kufrinjah 25.III.03 (1N), 25.VIII.03 (1F) ( JPUC); Kufr Sume 21.III.05 (1N); Kurayyiamah 23.X.95 (1F); Madaba 16.X.98 (1M) ( JPUC), Mahis 6.XII.04 (1N); Ma’in 28.II.05 (2N); Maruw 26.IV.04 (1F,2M); Mlahe- Madaba 28.II.05 (1N); Mukhabah Al Fauqa 12.I.05 (1N), 8.XI.05 (1M); Na’ur 21.V.82 (1M) ( JPUC); Northern Bayyudah 27.XII.04 (1F,2N); Sad Wadi Al Arab 8.XI.05 (2F,3M,1N); Saham 21.III.05 (3N); Samar 21.III.05 (1N); Shafa Badran 11.X.04 (1F,2M); Safaut 13.V. ?? (1) ( JPUC); Swayseh 11.IV.05 (1F, 2N); University of Jordan 8.IX.05 (1N); Wadi Shu’ayb 19.IX.05 (1 N), 12.X.96 (1 M), 6.XII.04 (2 N) ( JPUC); West Bayyudah 27.XII.04 (5 N); Yarqa 14.III.05 (8 N), 11.VII.04 (2 N); Zubea 7.X.04 (1 M);

Remarks: Ameles syriensis is recorded for the first time in Jordan. It is widely distributed in Jordan. The species can be recognized by its conical eyes, which are pointed distally. Individuals are active, quick in jumping and flying, which enables them to escape predation. When disturbed, they secret brown fluids from their mouth. Males are attracted to artificial lights and are good fliers. They were observed flying more than 15 meters. The nymphs of A. syriensis did not show any cannibalistic behavior in captivity. This species has 2 generations per year and they overwinter as nymphs. Adults appear from April to May, but the second generation usually appears at the end of August to the end of November. Egg laying of the first generation usually occurs between April and May, while egg laying of the second generation usually occurs between September and October. Adults were found to tolerate fasting for 8–12 days. A. syriensis was observed on Artemisia inculata , Centaurea iberica , Varthemia iphionoid, Cirisium alatum and Carlina tenuis .