Sphodromantis viridis subsp. viridis Forskal 1775

Sphodromantis viridis viridis (Forskål, 1775)

Distribution: Algeria, Chad, Cyprus, Egypt, Ethiopia, Jordan, Morocco, Mauritania, Palestine, Libya, Somali, Sudan, Syria, Tunis and Yemen.

Material examined: (17) specimens: Al Jubayhah 1.X.97 (1 M); Al Azraq 30.VI.92 (1 M); Al Bahhath 2.IX.03 (1 M); Al Baqurah 21.IV.05 (1 ootheca, 230 nymphs emerged on 3.VI.05); As Salt 19.I.03 (1 F) (JPUC); Mu'ath ben Jabal 8.XI.05 (1 N); Ghawr As Safi 5.IV.05 (3 oothecae, 170 nymphs emerged on 6.IV.05), 11.VII.02 (1F); Ghawr Al Mazra’a 31.I.05 (3 oothecae, 120 nymphs emerged from one ootheca on 11.III.05), 5.IV.05 (8 oothecae), 19.IX.05 (1N), 12.X.05 (1N); Ghawr Hadeetheh 31.I.05 (1 ootheca, 130 nymphs emerged on 16.II.05), 19.IX.05 (2N); Ghawr Isal 26.VII.05 (1F); Ghawr Kabid 24.III.87 (1), 1.V.87 (1), 13.X.90 (1), 2.XI.92 (1), 3.XI.97 (1M), 5.XI.92 (1), 16.XI.78 (1), 27.XI.96 (1), 17.XII.78 (3M), 27.XII.? (1); Jarash 2.V.96 (1); Jordan Valley 10.X.97 (1M), 10.XII.94 (1M); Kurrayyimah 21.X.95 (1); Wadi Esal 26.VII.05 (1F); Wadi Shu’ayb 16.II.05 (1 ootheca), 21.XI.03 (1N), 6.XII.04 (1F).

Remarks: Sphodromantis viridis can be easily recognized by their large green or brown body, with a yellow clear distinct stigma on its fore wings. Nymphs are fast moving while adults are strong and aggressive, despite that they are rather slow moving insects. Both males and females are good fliers. When in a threatening posture, S. viridis displays the red, inner sides of their mandibles, which are clearly visible against the contrasting face (Liske et al. 1999). Additionally, it was observed to spread its wings and raise the raptorial legs near the head. The collected eggs hatched at the end of February to the end June. S. viridis overwinters as adults. The female lays its ootheca on several trees or shrubs. It is most usually found on the perennially green leaves of Allotropic procera, Arthrocnemum macrostachyum, Tamaracks tetragyna, Halocremum strobilaceum, Seidlitzia rosmarinum, Sueda vera and Citrus trees. Kneucker (1909) recorded this species on the Tamarix nilotica from Sinai. Four oothecae were kept in the cages in the period between January and April. A total of 120, 130, 170, and 230 nymphs hatched from each.