Owlflies from Jordan (Neuroptera, Ascalaphidae)

The authors publish faunistic data on 48 owlfly specimens from Jordan, where only two species were known in the past. Four species (Ascalaphus festivus, Deleproctophylla variegata, Iranoidricerus cf. iranensis, Stylascalaphus krueperi) are new records for Jordan and the two previously recorded species (Bubopsis andromache, Bubopsis hamata) are confirmed. We present an annotated bibliography, the global distribution and information on the life history of each six species. The material reviewed in three collections also provides the first mention of Deleproctophylla variegata for Afghanistan.


Introduction
In the lacewing (Neuroptera) order, the owlfly family (Ascalaphidae) has approximately 450 valid described species. Half of the species described are from tropical and subtropical Africa (Tjeder 1992, Tjeder and Hansson 1992, Oswald 2019. In the Western Palaearctic, the owlfly fauna is well known compared to other regions of the world in terms of taxonomy (Aspöck et al. 2001). In this region, most species are primarily associated with arid semi-desert and desert habitats (Tjeder 1992). The transitional zone of the Afrotropical and Palaearctic regions is also rich in species. In this paper, we follow the traditional classification system for Ascalaphidae proposed by Aspöck et al. (2001). They listed 41 owlfly taxa (Ascalaphinae: 32 species and 4 subspecies, Haplogleniinae: 4 species and 1 subspecies) in their monograph. In recent years, 13 species have been described in the border regions of the Western Palaearctic, namely in Iran (Ábrahám and Mészáros 2002: Ptyngidricerus pseudoalbardanus, P. persepolisensis, P. sendanensis and P. pakistanensis), in Pakistan (Mészáros and Ábrahám 2005: Stylascalaphus fabiani), on the Arabian Peninsula (Hölzel 2004: Tytomy-ia arabica, Mansellacsa longicornis, Disparomitus yemenicus, Dixonotus hackeri, Aspoeckiella gallagheri and A. hyalina) and in Morocco (Ábrahám 2010: Cirrops berbericus; Badano and Pantaleoni 2012: Agadirius trojani). One previously recorded species (Ascalaphus hya [t]inus (Navás, 1921) (sic!)) proved to be a synonym of Stylascalaphus krueperi (van der Weele, 1909) (Ábrahám 2017). The owlfly fauna of the Western Palaearctic merits further research, as taxonomic uncertainties remain and the distribution of species needs to be mapped.
Jordan is located in the Middle East at the intersection of different biogeographic provinces (Udvardy 1975). Various climatic regimes, ranging from subhumid to arid Mediterranean and Saharan-Mediterranean bioclimates, as well as four phytogeographic regions, Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian, Saharo-Arabian and Sudanian, are described (Al-Eisawi 1996). In Jordan, only two species (Bubopsis andromache and Bubopsis hamata) were known from the literature (Aspöck U. et al. 1979, Dobosz andÁbrahám 2007). The authors gathered new and mainly recent data on the Jordanian owlfly fauna from two museum collections and from material gathered by the first author on recent collecting trips.

Results
Only two species of owlflies had previously been observed in Jordan. The authors were able to record four more species from the area. According to the distribution of the species, one (Ascalaphus festivus) comes from the Afrotropical region. Three species (Stylascalaphus krueperi, Bubopsis andromache, Deleproctophylla variegata) are present in the Mediterranean region, while two species (Bubopsis hamata, Iranoidricerus cf. iranensis) were found in Asian eremic regions. The diversity of the fauna is reflected in the location of the country, as it lies in the south-eastern part of the Western Palaearctic, in an area where three distinct biogeographic provinces intersect.
The authors provide an annotated bibliography of species, faunistic data, species distributions and some biological features below.  , Tjeder 1972(Nom), 1980, Ohm and Hölzel 1982(Dist), Hölzel 1983(Tax, Dist), 1998(Dist), 2004, Hölzel and Ohm 1990 (Dist), Aspöck and Hölzel 1996 (Chlist) Distribution. This species is widely distributed in Africa. According to Prost (2013) it is found in the Republic of South Africa, West Africa (Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, Ghana and Liberia) and on the northern coast of Africa. Pantaleoni et al. (2013) published surprising records from southern Sardinia (Italy). Aspöck et al. (2001) documented the species on the border region of Southwest Palaearctic (Israel, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Yemen, the United Arab Emirates, Tunisia and the Cape Verde Islands). Its occurrence in Egypt (Navás 1913) was confirmed by Prost (2013). It is a new record for the fauna of Jordan. Further specimens can be found in the collection of SCMK (Kaposvár) from Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia. A closely related taxon from Madagascar is treated by Tjeder (1980) and Prost (2013) as a separate species under the name Ascalaphus africanus (McLachlan, 1871), which is also mentioned from Mozambique (Prost 2013). In the future, it would be worthwhile to confirm morphologically separated species by genetic testing.
Comments. This species was found in a marsh near a hot spring and local water seeps. The vegetation was characterized by scattered date palms (Phoenix dactylifera) and covered with Juncus and Saccharum (Figs 3, 4). Males and females were found during the day sitting on stems and collected with insect nets. The locality to the north of Wadi Mujib near the Dead Sea is the lowest observation point on earth for this species at 316 m b.s.l. and is located in the Sudanian bioclimatic region characterized by tropical influences. The species was found in Oman and Saudi Arabia near wadis, in their flood plains, or in oases (C. Monnerat, personal observation). In Sardinia, A. festivus is found in coastal salt marshes (Pantaleoni et al. 2013).

Helicomitus hya[t]inus Navás, 1921 (sic!) (ODescr).
Ascalaphus hyatinus (Navás, 1921 Distribution. Information on the taxonomic status and distribution of this species, with new records for Morocco, was recently published by Ábrahám (2017). This species represents a new record for the fauna of Jordan.
Comments. The habitat in Wadi Kufrinja Valley (Fig.  7) was a pasture on the left flank of a steep-sided valley with low bushes, stones and some rocky outcroppings. There was grazing pressure from sheep and goats. The individual was disturbed, flew off and was later found again, with some difficulty because it was flying quickly, sitting on dry bush stems (Lamiaceae). At Hammamat Afra-Burbeita, a male was found sitting on the dry stem of an annual plant (Asteraceae) on a dry, sandy, rocky slope in Wadi Afra Valley near a strip of marsh (Fig. 8). Distribution. The first specimens of Bubopsis andromache were collected by Werner from Samos (Werner 1934), Limnos (Werner 1937) and Lesvos (Werner 1938) before the species was described. Werner published these specimens under the name Bubopsis hamata, as reported by Popov (2004). This species is found in Greece, northern Macedonia, southwestern Bulgaria, the Aegean Islands (Crete and Gavdhos, Lesvos, Samos, Kalimnos, Kos and Rhodes), western and southern Asia minor and the eastern Mediterranean region (Israel, Syria, Lebanon) (Aspöck et al. 2001). In Turkey it was collected mainly near the coast. Its occurrence in Jordan was also mentioned by Dobosz and Ábrahám (2007). The subspecies Bubopsis andromache firyuzae Sziráki, 2000 is only known from southern Turkmenistan.

Bubopsis andromache Aspöck, Aspöck & Hölzel, 1979
Comments. For the most part, species of the genus Bubopsis are typical hilltopping species that fly before sunset and are attracted to light traps after evening twilight. In the morning it may still be found but less frequently. Yet nearly all the specimens were collected with an entomological net during the day (morning, midday, afternoon), often after being disturbed from rest. Two specimens, however, were attracted by light trap or by building lights (RSCN lodge at Ajlun Reserve). The species was recorded in different habitats, including semi-closed forest (Fig. 11) and open field (Fig. 14). At Ajlun RSCN Reserve, it was found in clearings of Quercus sp. forest with Pistacia palaestina and Arbutus andrachne, small bushes of Cistus creticus (Fig. 11), occasionally sitting on dry shrub stems of Phlomis viscosa. At ar-Rumman, it was found in open landscape with bushes of Retama raetam and Mediterranean Batha vegetation with Sarcopoterium spinosum, Phagnalon rupestre (Fig. 13) or in still drier habitat without shrubs and mostly with annual herbs, such as in fallow fields (Fig. 14). The species was recorded in the western highlands (northern and central parts) of Jordan between 260 and 1020 m a.s.l., from subhumid to arid Mediterranean bioclimates in Mediterranean and Irano-Turanian vegetation zones.  (Fig. 15).
Distribution. Its distribution likely extends from northeastern Africa (Egypt) to West Asia (Iran, Iraq, Syria, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia) (Hölzel 2004). In Turkey, observations suggest that this species is only found in the eastern part of the country (Dobosz and Ábrahám 2007). It is also known from the Caucasus (Azerbaijan, Georgia) and Kopet Dag Mountains (Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan). The type locality is in Syria (Van der Weele 1909).

Deleproctophylla variegata (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834)
Comments. It is a day-active species found in open landscapes, for example in extensive cereal fields of Triticum dicoccoides (Figs 19,20) and fallow fields with Erucaria hispanica. D. variegata is distributed in Jordan in the north and central part of the western highlands area between 430 and 1145 m a.s.l. in semiarid and arid Mediterranean bioclimates. The pterostigma of the specimens collected near Madaba on 26.v.2012 exhibited a gradient of color ranging from beige to light brown to dark brown (Figs 21-23), due to maturation processes. Such differences in wing cell coloration were the cause of confusion in the systematics of Deleproctophylla, for example between D. dusmeti (Navás, 1914) and D. bleusei Kimmins, 1949, as detailed in Monserrat et al. (2014. In mature specimens of D. bleusei, the pterostigma are whitish to bright yellowish, whereas in D. dusmeti the pterostigma are darker. However, other identification criteria such as the wingspot pattern and the morphology of the genitalia are diagnostic and the pterostigma of mature specimens of D. bleusei are whitish to bright yellowish. Ptyngidricerus iranensis Kimmins, 1938 -(ODescr), Tjeder and Waterston 1977 (Tax), Aspöck H. and Hölzel 1996 (Chlist), Sziráki 1998 (Chlist), Aspöck et al. 2001 (Mon).
Iranoidricerus iranensis (Kimmins, 1938 Material examined. 1♂, Jordanien, Romana, Ost-Jordanien, 4.x.1966, leg J. and S. Klapperich, MHNG (Fig. 24);1♀, Jordania, near Amman, 1000m a.s.l., vii.1999 Distribution. Information on the general distribution of this species was published by Ábrahám and Mészáros (2002) and additional data were found in Kemal and Kocak (2006) and Kemal and Seven (2011) for Turkey and Zamani et al. (2019) for Iran. A severely damaged specimen examined by Tjeder with a label "Palestine" considered as questionable referred most probably to this species (Tjeder and Waterston 1977). The specimens examined represent new records for the fauna of Jordan. This species is distributed in the mountainous areas from south-eastern Turkey (from 1000 to 1200 m a.s.l.) to western Iran (from 1141 to 2582 m a.s.l.) with a southern disjunct area in Jordan and probably also in neighbouring Palestine.
Comments. While no information is available on the collection method used by the Klapperichs, Müller's specimen was collected by light trapping, as were other specimens Koçak 2006, Kemal andSeven 2011, L. Ábrahám, personal observations). Additional individuals were found by the first author in the Insect Museum at the University of Jordan (Amman) from the area around Amman in Irak al-Amir and as-Salt. Localities are situated in the mountainous area from 800 to 1000 m a.s.l. in a semiarid Mediterranean bioclimate.

Discussion
The owlfly fauna of Jordan is at present better understood, with six known species in comparison to the two species previously mentioned in the literature (Aspöck et al. 1979, Aspöck et al. 2001, Dobosz and Ábrahám 2007. However, given its four climatic influences (Al-Eisawi 1996), Jordan has a wide diversity of habitats that should be studied more carefully to improve our understanding of the biology, ecology and distribution of these fascinating insects. Species recorded from neighbouring countries (Tab. 1), such as Libelloides syriacus (McLachlan, 1871) and Puer maculatus (Olivier, 1789) in Israel, are also potentially present in Jordan, namely in regions with Mediterranean climatic influences. Some species known from the Arabian Peninsula (Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen) may also be found, possibly in southern Jordan, where no records are thus far available from large areas such as Wadi Araba, Wadi Rum and the eastern desert. This region is identified as a transition zone between the Palaearctic and Eremic fauna detailed by Por (1975). The Arabian Peninsula has been better explored recently, resulting in the description of several species (Hölzel 2004). Nevertheless, the fauna of Saudi Arabia, which shares large borders with Jordan in the south and the east, remains poorly known. The presence of Ascalaphus festivus confirms a relatively large zone of overlap of the afro-tropical faunistic region with the western Palaearctic region, as is the case for Palpares cephalotes, distributed from Afghanistan to Senegal. Its presence suggests that other species from the afro-tropical faunistic region may also eventually be found. Light trapping, especially if conducted shortly after twilight, in combination with sight hunting during the day, may maximize the number of species observed.