Rivetina byblica La Greca & Lambardo, 1982

Abu-Dannoun, Omar & Katbeh-Bader, Ahmad, 2007, Mantodea of Jordan, Zootaxa 1617, pp. 43-56 : 52-53

Rivetina byblica La Greca & Lambardo, 1982

Distribution: Jordan, Palestine, Syria and Turkey.

Material examined: (232) specimens: Ajlune 19.VIII.03 (1F); Al Azraq Wet Land Reserve 29.VIII.05 (1M); Al Bayt University 26.IV.05 (6N), 29.VI.04 (2F, 1M, 4N); Al Baqura 21.IV.05 (1N); Al Haqawa 31.V.05 (5N); Al Hummar 31.V.04 (1N); Al Mujeb Reserve (Faqu'a) 23.VIII.05 (1M); Al Mukhaybah Al Fawqa 26.IV.05 (9N); Al Mukhaybah Al Tahta 26.IV.05 (3N); Al Muwaqar 14.VI.05 (3N), 20.VI.05 (1N), 22.VII.04 (1M); Ash Shawbak 30.III.05 (3N), 15.VII.03 (2F); Ash Shawmary Reserve 30.VIII.05 (2M); Al Qaser 31.VIII.04 (1M); Al Qwaysmeh 14.VI.05 (2N); Al Walah 3.V.05 (4N), 12.VII.04 (5N), 31.VIII.04 (1F, 1M, 1N); Amman 10.VII.92 (1), 1.X.87 (1)M; Anjarah 15.VIII.05 (1F); Ar Rabbah 3.V.05 (1N); Ar Rumman 27.VII.04 (1N), 11.X.04 (1F), 14.XI.04 (1M); Ar Rummanah 25.VI.05 (2N), 4.IX.05 (1F,1M); Ar Rusayfah 14.VI.05 (1N); Assarow near As Salt 23.IV.05 (1N), 10.VI.05 (1F,11N), 18.VI.03 (1M), 27.VI.05 (4N), 4.VII.04 (1N), 8.VII.04 (1M), 29.VII.03 (2M), 4.VIII.05 (1M), 6.VIII.05 (1F,3M), 12.VIII.03 (1F), 12.VIII.04 (2F,2M), 16.VIII.03 (1F), 18.VIII.03 (1F), 28.VIII.03 (1M), 30.VIII.03 (1F,1M), 8.IX.03 (1F), 17.IX.05 (3M), 13.X.03 (1F); As Subayhi 31.V.05 (1N); Awajan 14.VI.05 (2N); Az Zarqa’ 24.VI.92 (1)N; Az Zarqa' Jarash Street 15.VIII.05 (1F); Bayt Yafa 27.VII.04 (2F,1M); Dana 30.IV.05 (1N), 11.VII.03 (1M); Eastern Bayudah 31.V.05 (2N); Hummrit As Sahin 31.V.05 (2N), 4.VI.04 (3N,2M), 8.VIII.05 (1M,1N), 6.IX.04 (1M); Iraq Al Amir 5.VII.05 (1N); Jarash 16.VI.03 (1F), 19.VIII.03 (1F,1M); Kufr Jayiz 5.VII.04 (1N,2M), 27.VII.04 (1N); Kufrinjah 25.VIII.03 (2F,1M); Marka Airport 14.VI.05 (3N); Mukhaybah Al Fawqa 26.IV.05 (8N) Najel 30.III.05 (3N), 23.V.05 (3N), 14.VII.03 (1F), 15.VII.03 (1F,3N), 16.VII.04 (3N); Natfeh 2.VII.88 (1M) (MUC); Nebo 19.VII.05 (1F); Ras Muneef 21.VI.05 (1N); Sahab 14.VI.05 (1N); Sufe 15.VIII.05 (1M); Thagret Jub 10.V.05 (12N); Theeban 3.V.05 (2N); Umm Al Madares 5.VII.05 (1N); Wadi Al Yabis 31.V.05 (2N); Wadi Shu’ayb 27.VI.05 (9N, 4F,2M), 11.VIII.03 (1N); Wadi Zeqlab 31.V.05 (1N); Yajuz 14.VI.05 (14N), 8.VIII.03 (1M); Yarqa 11.VIII.04 (1N,1F).

Remarks: Rivetina byblica was described for first time from Wadi Shu‘ayb by La Greca & Lombardo (1982). It was previously incorrectly identified as Rivetina baetica by Uvarov (1923). It is a very active species. Early nymphs of this species mimic ants in color and behavior. Only males are good fliers during the hot summer. Males and females were kept in small cages and were found to tolerate starvation for 1–2 weeks. The nymphs usually appear in the field between March and June, while adults usually appear between July and September. Most specimens were found on the ground, but some were collected from Sarcopoterium spinosum and Ononis natrix , while others were collected under streetlights.