Empusa pennata (Thunberg, 1815)

Distribution: Algeria, Canary Islands, Libya, Morocco, Sardinia, Sicilian, Spain, Tunis and Western Mediterranean area.

Material examined: (6) Specimens: Al Ghawr 1.IV.02 (1F), 18.III.04 (1F); Al Mujeb Reserve–Al Ghawr 22.VII.05 (1N); Ghawr Al Mazra’ah 8.X.05 (1N); Ghawr Hadethah 19.IX.05 (1N); Marka 10.V.03 (1F).

Remarks: Empusa pennata is recorded from Jordan for the first time. It appears to be rare in Jordan. Most specimens were collected from the southern Jordan Valley. This species was recorded near Jericho (Palestine) by Kneucker (1909). Additionally, Chopard (1921) recorded this species from Amara (Iraq). It was observed that this species as well as Empusa fasciata are capable of maneuvering well enough to escape capture. It was observed living on Halocremum strobilaceum and other dry grasses.