Corresponding author: Christian Monnerat (
Academic editor: Peter Duelli
The authors publish faunistic data on 48 owlfly specimens from Jordan, where only two species were known in the past. Four species (
In the lacewing (
Jordan is located in the Middle East at the intersection of different biogeographic provinces (
Between 2007 and 2015, the first author conducted ten field trips to Jordan at different periods of the year. Trips were undertaken in January (1), April (3), May (1), June (2), August (1), November (1) and December (3). Although those entomological trips mainly focused on dragonflies and were thus largely conducted in aquatic habitats, attention was always paid to neuropterans and many other diverse habitats were visited. Except for one individual, owlflies were collected during the day. Two portable light traps (12V super actinic, model bioform.de) powered by a car battery were used in June 2011 and May–June 2012.
The categories defined for vegetation and climatic regions come from
Habitus photographs were taken using a digital camera Canon EOS 6D coupled with Visionary Digital Passport and Helicon Focus version 5.3 in order to compile the pictures.
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 (
The authors provide an annotated bibliography of species, faunistic data, species distributions and some biological features below.
1♀, Jordanien, Cumran a. Toten Meer, 16.x.1966, leg. J. and S. Klapperich,
1♀, 7.75 km N Wadi Mujib mouth,
This species is widely distributed in Africa. According to
This species was found in a marsh near a hot spring and local water seeps. The vegetation was characterized by scattered date palms (
1♀, Wadi Kufrinja Valley, 2.9 km E Kurayyima,
Information on the taxonomic status and distribution of this species, with new records for Morocco, was recently published by
The habitat in Wadi Kufrinja Valley (Fig.
1♂, Ajlun Reserve, RSCN Lodge,
The first specimens of
For the most part, species of the genus
1♂, Dana RSCN Reserve, 30.67809N, 35.5988E, 850 m a.s.l., 4.vi.2011, leg. C. Monnerat,
Its distribution likely extends from northeastern Africa (Egypt) to West Asia (Iran, Iraq, Syria, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia) (
In Jordan, the specimen found in Dana (Fig.
1♂ Jordania Jordan, Oberes Jordantal, vi.1999, leg. G. Müller,
The first described
It is a day-active species found in open landscapes, for example in extensive cereal fields of
1♂, Jordanien, Romana, Ost-Jordanien, 4.x.1966, leg J. and S. Klapperich,
Information on the general distribution of this species was published by
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 (
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 (
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The first author thanks Matthias Borer (Natural History Museum Basel) who joined the field trips in 2011 and 2012, collected samples included in the present study and kindly provided the photos in Figures