New faunal data on lacewings (Insecta, Neuroptera) collected from Saudi Arabia

Agostino Letardi; Mahmoud S. Abdel-Dayem; Hathal M. Al Dhafer

doi:10.3897/zookeys.936.49962

Research Article

New faunal data on lacewings (Insecta, Neuroptera) collected from Saudi Arabia

Agostino Letardi^‡, Mahmoud S. Abdel-Dayem^§|, Hathal M. Al Dhafer^|

‡ ENEA C.R. Casaccia, Roma, Italy

§ Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

| King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Corresponding author: Mahmoud S. Abdel-Dayem ( mseleem@ksu.edu.sa )

Academic editor: Shaun Winterton

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Citation: Letardi A, Abdel-Dayem MS, Al Dhafer HM (2020) New faunal data on lacewings (Insecta, Neuroptera) collected from Saudi Arabia. ZooKeys 936: 111-148. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.936.49962

ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7F9D3ABF-1EB4-4439-B43F-EB1B142FD023

Abstract

This study presents new data on the lacewing fauna of Saudi Arabia based on field work performed between 2014 and 2019. Sixty-one lacewing species from 37 genera and seven Neuroptera families were documented. Additionally, two species belonging to Dielocroce and Pseudomallada were identified only to genus level. Three of the identified species are new records to Saudi Arabia (Aspoeckiella gallagheri Hölzel, 2004, Bankisus maculosus Hölzel, 1983, and Nemoleon secundus Hölzel, 2002). Another three species are new to the fauna of the Arabian Peninsula (Mantispa aphavexelte Aspöck & Aspöck, 1994, Omoleon jeanneli Navás, 1936, and Stylascalaphus krueperi van der Weele, 1909). The first reports of eight species are provided after their original description from Saudi Arabia; namely, Creoleon ultimus Hölzel, 983, Cueta amseli Hölzel, 1982, Cu. asirica Hölzel, 1982, Distoleon asiricus Hölzel, 1983, Geyria pallida Hölzel, 1983, Neuroleon delicatus Hölzel, 1983, N. virgineus Hölzel, 1983 and Solter buettikeri Hölzel, 1982 Zoogeographically, most lacewing species documented in the Arabian Peninsula are endemic (26.2%), followed by Afro-syroeremic (23.0%), Afrotropical (18.0%), and Afro-syro-iranoeremic (14.8%) species. Palaearctic species (4.9%) had the lowest contribution.

Keywords

distribution, endemic, new records, Neuroptera, Saudi Arabia

Introduction

The Arabian Peninsula is located on the Arabian tectonic plate in northeast Africa, western Asia. Its fauna has different zoogeographical affinities (Larsen 1984; Hölzel 1998), as it lies at the convergence of three zoogeographical realms: the Palaearctic from the north, the Afrotropical from the southwest, and the Oriental from the east. The Arabian Peninsula covers a surface area of 3.2 million km², and encompasses Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen (Fig. 1). Saudi Arabia covers approximately two thirds (1,969,000 km²) of the peninsula and is considered to hold the richest biodiversity in it (Miller 1994; Mallon 2011). The key biological sites in Saudi Arabia include isolated mountain massifs, rawdahs (meadows), wadis (valleys), juniper woodlands, acacia woodlands, freshwater wetlands, salt marshes, mangrove thickets, marine islands, coral reefs, algal beds, and sea grass beds (Abuzinada et al. 2005).

Figure 1.

Map of the Arabian Peninsula.

Neuroptera is a small group of insects that currently contains ca. 5,800 species in 19 families (Oswald 2019). Nine families have been reported to occur in the Arabian Peninsula: Chrysopidae, Hemerobiidae, Sisyridae, Coniopterygidae, Mantispidae, Berothidae, Nemopteridae, Myrmeleontidae, and Ascalaphidae (the last two recently fused in a single family, see Machado et al. 2018). Saudi Arabia has an exceptionally rich fauna of aridophilic families, Nemopteridae and Myrmeleontidae, with studies over the last 40 years documenting several new species (Meinander 1980; Hölzel 1982, 1983a, 1988, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004). For many of these species, the original description represents the only published data. Consequently, despite many studies documenting Neuroptera in the Arabian Peninsula over the last 40 years (Meinander 1979; Hölzel 1980, 1983b; Sziráki 1992, 1997; Aspöck and Aspöck 1998; Sziráki and van Harten 2006; Saji and Whittington 2008), there is still a paucity of faunal surveys focusing on Neuroptera that could provide important distribution and ecological information on this group.

Over the last six years, new faunal unpublished records of lacewings have been gathered in Saudi Arabia. Thus, this study aims to provide new information on this group in Saudi Arabia, with a focus on poorly known and rarely collected species.

Materials and methods

The collection of samples was conducted between 2014 and 2019 at different locations in Saudi Arabia. Adult lacewings were captured mainly with light traps (LT), but also pitfall traps (PT), sugar traps (ST), and sweep nets (SW) were utilized. Specimens were preserved by desiccation or in 70% alcohol. They were then deposited in the collections of King Saud University Museum of Arthropods (KSMA) (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) unless otherwise indicated (AL: Agostino Letardi collection). The species are presented in systematic order, by family and genus, according to Aspöck et al. (2001).

For the examined material, the following information were verified: Saudi Province (in bold) followed by a colon (:), the name of the governorate, locality, geographical coordinates (latitude, longitude), elevation (m), date of collection, capture technique(s), collector(s), number of examined specimens followed by sex (if determined) or “ex” (if the specimen sex could not be recognized because the abdomen lost or other reasons). The examined material was arranged by province, governorate, and locality name, in alphabetical order. Then, it was presented in ascending order according to altitude, and chronologically based on month of collection. When the records were from different provinces and governorates, a full stop separate them. A semicolon was used to separate different records. The governorate name was only cited at the beginning if the records were from the same governorate. Labels that had the same locality name, except for slight differences (such as elevation, collection date, collector/s), were listed jointly with the second label, specified with “ibidem”, and followed by a comma and the different data. The global distribution was derived from Oswald (2019) and general range was sourced from Aspöck et al. (2001). A biology entry summarizes previous knowledge on habitat, host, behavior, etc., while a notes entry provides novel information on distribution, habitat, taxonomy, and other relevant data.

Results

Chrysopidae Schneider, 1851

Italochrysa bimaculata Hölzel, 1980

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°52.598'N, 41°18.672'E, 892 m, 15 Oct 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀; ibidem, 19°51.762'N, 41°18.089'E, 1225 m, 17 Oct 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♂; ibidem, 2 Nov 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀; ibidem, 19°50.710'N, 41°18.267'E, 1474 m, 3 Nov 2013, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♂; ibidem, 14 Nov 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 2♂; ibidem, 19°50.411'N, 41°18.686'E, 1611 m, 17 Nov 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♂; ibidem, 19°50.575'N, 41°18.691'E, 1666 m, 3 Apr 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀; ibidem, 5 May 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀; Wadi Reyam (NE Al Makhwah), 19°50'28"N, 41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 1♀. Asir Province: Abha, Garf Raydah Nature Reserve, 18°11.749'N, 42°23.345'E, 1614 m, 5 Sep 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♂; ibidem, 18 Nov 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♂; Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.293'N, 42°22.195'E, 1150 m, 4 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♂; ibidem, 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 2♂; ibidem, 11‒13 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 1♀ (AL). Khamis Mushait, Wadi Ibn Hashbal (14 km N Khamis Mushait), 18°27.34'N, 42°42.53'E, 1926 m, 2 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♂.

Distribution

Africa: Senegal, Tunisia. Asia: Israel, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. A polycentric Afrotropical species.

Notes

This species was previously reported as I. arabica in Al Bahah Province (Hölzel 1980). The listed specimens were collected between 1,150 and 1,926 m elevation and seem to be associated with Acacia woodlands and rocky areas with Barbary fig shrubs (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. (Cactaceae)) in the mountainous areas of southwest of Saudi Arabia.

Pseudomallada amseli (Hölzel, 1980)

Material examined

Asir Province: Abha, Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 4♀; ibidem, 1♀ (AL).

Distribution

Africa: Ethiopia. Asia: Israel, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. A possible Afrotropical species.

Notes

It was previously reported in the provinces of Al Bahah and Asir (Hölzel 1980). The listed specimens were collected at 1197 m elevation in mountainous Acacia woodland areas in southwest Saudi Arabia.

Pseudomallada arabicus (Hölzel, 1995)

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mandaq, Wadi Tourabah (E An Na’Amah), 20°11'01"N, 41°18'42"E, 1826 m, 6 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 4♀ and 3♂. Asir Province: Abha, Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 8♀; ibidem, 18°10.293'N, 42°22.195'E, 1150 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 9♀ and 2♂; ibidem, 1♀ and 1♂ (AL).

Distribution

Asia: Saudi Arabia, Yemen. A possible Arabian endemic species.

Notes

Pseudomallada arabicus was originally described from Fayfa Mountain in Jizan Province (Hölzel 1995). The listed specimens were collected in Acacia woodlands in the highlands (1150–1826 m elevation) of southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Pseudomallada spadix (Hölzel, 1988)

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mandaq, Wadi Tourabah (E An Na’Amah), 20°11'01"N, 41°18'42"E, 1826 m, 6 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 5♀ and 2♂. Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°51.682'N, 41°18.263'E, 1291 m, 29 Mar 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♀; ibidem, 1♀ (AL). Jizan Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♂.

Distribution

Africa: Sudan. Asia: Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. A possible Afrotropical species.

Notes

It was originally described from the provinces of Al Bahah and Asir (Hölzel 1988). The listed specimens were collected in Acacia woodlands at low and mid elevations (136‒1826 m) in southwestern of Saudi Arabia.

Pseudomallada venosus (Rambur, 1838)

Material examined

Asir Province: Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (3 km N Al Hubail), 18°06.981'N, 42°13.939'E, 451 m, 3 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem and I. Rasool leg., 2♀ and 1♂.

Distribution

Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia. Asia: Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Mongolia, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Yemen. Europe: France, Portugal, Spain. It is a Palaearctic species.

Biology

This green lacewing is generally associated with low vegetation in extremely dry-warm biotopes, predominantly in steppes and semidesert-like habitats, and is quite common at light traps (Aspöck et al. 1980; Diaz-Aranda and Monserrat 1990).

Notes

This species was previously reported in several Saudi provinces: Asir, Al Bahah, Eastern Province, Madinah, Makkah, and Riyadh (Hölzel 1988). The listed adult specimens were collected by light traps in sandy areas with Acacia woodland at low elevation (451 m) in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Pseudomallada spp.

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°50'51"N, 41°18'06"E, 1358 m, 9 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 1♀ and 1♂; ibidem, 19°50.329'N, 41°18.604'E, 1563 m, 29 Mar 2017, ST, 1♂; Wadi Reyam (NE Al Makhwah), 19°50'28"N, 41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 3♀, 1♂ and 1ex. Asir Province: Abha, Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 1 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♀; 18°10.293'N, 42°22.195'E, 1150 m; ibidem, 4 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 2♀ and 2♂. Khamis Mushait, Wadi Ibn Hashbal (14 km N Khamis Mushait), 18°27'34"N, 42°42'53"E, 1926 m, 2 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 2♀. Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (2 km N Al Hubail), 18°07.12'N, 42°13.55'E, 489 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 4♀; ibidem, 1♀ (AL). Jizan Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 21♀ and 12♂, 1♀; ibidem, 1♂ (AL).

Notes

Pseudomallada Tsukaguchi 1995 is one of the most species-rich genera within the green lacewing family Chrysopidae and is one of the largest in the order Neuroptera (Duelli et al. 2017). Hölzel (1980, 1988, 1995) described several new species of this genus in the Arabian Peninsula; however, a revision of species in this zoogeographic area is not available, with species identification of specimens often being difficult in preserved alcohol (as they are not always in good condition). Specimens were collected at elevations of 136–1926 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia. The listed adult specimens were captured in sugar traps in rocky areas with a Barbary fig shrub community, and by light traps in rocky and sandy areas with Acacia woodlands.

Chrysoperla carnea s. l. (Stephens, 1836)

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mandaq, Wadi Tourabah (E An Na’Amah), 20°11'01"N, 41°18'42"E, 1826 m, 6 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 1♀ and 1♂. Asir Province: Abha, Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha, near Wadi Mashwas), 18°10.293'N, 42°22.195'E, 1150 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 2♀; ibidem, 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♀. Jizan Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 3♀ and 2♂. Riyadh Province: Hawtat Bani Tamim, Ibex Reserve Protected Area (W Hotat Bani Tamim), 23°2107'N, 46°21.36'E, 709 m, 11 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♂.

Distribution

This species is widely distributed in the Palaearctic region, extending to Afrotropical (Cape Verde, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Yemen) and Oriental (China, India, Nepal) regions.

Notes

As reported by Hölzel (2002), knowledge about species, as well as the subspecies of C. phaenon in the carnea-group, of populations in the Arabian Peninsula remains unresolved. Hölzel (1980) recorded this species in the Eastern Province, Madinah, Makkah, and Riyadh provinces of Saudi Arabia. The listed specimens were collected from southwestern and central parts of Saudi Arabia, at elevations up to 1197 m. Most specimens were collected from rocky and sandy areas with Acacia woodlands.

Brinckochrysa alfierii (Navás, 1926)

Material examined

Jizan Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♂.

Distribution

Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Eritrea, Libya, Sudan, Tunisia. Asia: Israel, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. A polycentric Afro-syroeremic species.

Biology

Practically unknown. Adults were collected on Tamarix sp. in sand dune and coastal dune habitats (Hölzel 2002).

Notes

This species was previously reported in Riyadh Province (Hölzel 1980). The listed single male specimen was attracted to a light trap in sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at low elevation of 136 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Brinckochrysa chlorosoma (Navás, 1914)

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mandaq, Wadi Tourabah (E An Na’Amah), 20°11'01"N, 41°18'42"E, 1826 m, 6 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 1♂. Al Makhwah, Wadi Reyam (NE Al Makhwah), 19°50'28"N, 41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 1♀ and 1♂;

Distribution

Africa: widespread, Cabo Verde. Asia: Israel, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. Europe: Greece, Italy, Malta. An eremic Afrotropical species.

Notes

This species was previously reported in Makkah Province (Hölzel 1980). The listed specimens were collected in sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at elevations of 47‒1826 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Chrysemosa andresi (Navás, 1915)

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mandaq, Wadi Tourabah (E An Na’Amah), 20°11'01"N, 41°18'42"E, 1826 m, 6 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 2♀. Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°51.682'N, 41°18.263'E, 1291 m, 29 Mar 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♀; ibidem, 19°50'51"N, 41°18'06"E, 1358 m, 9 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 4♀ and 2♂; ibidem, 19°50.329'N, 41°18.604'E, 1563 m, 29 Mar 2017, ST, 1♂; 10 km NNW of Al Makhwah, 20°10.750'N, 41°19.072'E, 554 m, 30 Mar 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 2♂; Wadi Reyam (NE Al Makhwah), 19°50'28"N, 41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 7♀ and 8♂. Asir Province: Abha, Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.293'N, 42°22.195'E, 1150 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 3♀ and 3♂, 1♀; ibidem, 1♂ (AL); ibidem, 4 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♀; ibidem, 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 2♀. Khamis Mushait, Wadi Ibn Hashbal (14 km N Khamis Mushait), 18°27.34'N, 42°42.53'E, 1926 m, 2, Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♀ and 1♂. Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (3 km N Al Hubail), 18°06.981'N, 42°13.939'E, 451 m, 3 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem and I. Rasool leg., 1♀. Jizan Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 3♀ and 1♂.

Distribution

Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Senegal, Sudan. Asia: Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. A polycentric Afro-syro-iranoeremic species.

Notes

Chrysemosa andresi was recorded in Asir Province (Hölzel 1988). The specimens were collected at different elevations (136–1926 m) in southwestern Saudi Arabia. The listed specimens were caught by sugar traps set in rocky Barbary fig shrub communities and by light traps set in rocky and sandy areas with Acacia woodlands.

Hemerobiidae Latreille, 1802

Micromus sjostedti van der Weele, 1910

Material examined

Jizan Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♀.

Distribution

Africa: sub-Saharan Africa (widespread) to South Africa, Cabo Verde. Asia: Saudi Arabia, Yemen. A possible Afrotropical species.

Notes

The species was previously documented in Asir Province (Hölzel 1988). The listed female specimen was collected at low elevation (136 m) in southwestern Saudi Arabia in a sandy area with Acacia woodlands.

Mantispidae Leach in Brewster, 1815

Afromantispa nana (Erichson, 1839)

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mandaq, Wadi Tourabah (E An Na’Amah), 20°11'01"N, 41°18'42"E, 1826 m, 6 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 6♀ and 5♂. Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°50.51'N, 41°18.06'E, 1358 m, 9 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 10♀, 11♂ and 1 ex; ibidem, 14 Apr 2016, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♀ and 1♂ (AL); Wadi Reyam (NE Al Makhwah), 19°50'28"N, 41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 6♀, and 24♂. Asir Province: Abha, Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 11‒13 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 2♀ and 1♂; ibidem, 16 Apr 2016, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♀ and 1♂ (AL). Khamis Mushait, Wadi Ibn Hashbal (14 km N Khamis Mushait), 18°27.34'N, 42°42.53'E, 1926 m, LT, 2 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♀; ibidem, 2 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♂. Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (3 km N Al Hubail), 18°06.981'N, 42°13.939'E, 451 m, 3 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem and I. Rasool leg., 1♀; ibidem, 18°07.12'N, 42°13.55'E, 489 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♀; ibidem, 18°06'57"N, 42°13'55"E, 462 m, 12 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 1♂. Jizan Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 2♀ and 2♂.

Distribution

Africa: Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Eritrea, Republic of the Congo, South Africa, Sudan. Asia: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen. A possible Afrotropical species.

Biology

Unknown.

Notes

This species was previously recorded in the Arabian Peninsula (Yemen: Aden) as Necyla arabica (Navás 1914), now a junior synonym. The listed specimens were collected in rocky and sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at different elevations (136–1926) in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Mantispa aphavexelte Aspöck & Aspöck, 1994

Material examined

Asir Province: Abha, Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♂; ibidem, 1♂ (AL); ibidem, 11‒13 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 1♂.

Distribution

Africa: Morocco. Asia: Armenia, China[?], Iran, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, Turkey. Europe: widespread in southern Europe. It is a Palearctic species.

Biology

Mantispa aphavexelte was previously found in ruderal areas and olive groves. The larvae parasitize spiders and feed on spider eggs (Aspöck et al. 1980).

Notes

This study presents the first report for this species in Saudi Arabia. The three males were collected from mountainous Acacia woodlands at an elevation of 1197 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Berothidae Handlirsch, 1908

Nodalla eatoni (McLachlan, 1898)

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°51.066'N, 41°18.037'E, 1325 m, 2 Nov 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 2♀; 10 km NNW of Al Makhwah, 20°10.750'N, 41°19.072'E, 554 m, 30 Mar 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♀.

Distribution

Africa: widely distributed in northern Africa. Asia: Israel, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. A polycentric Afro-syroeremic species.

Biology

Nodalla eatoni is found in semi-deserts with sparse low vegetation habitats, mainly in the form of isolated spiny dwarf shrubs, surrounded by extensive vegetation-free sandy areas (Aspöck and Aspöck 1983).

Notes

The species was previously documented in several localities (Aspöck and Aspöck 1998). The listed female specimen was collected in foothill Acacia woodlands at elevation of 554‒1325 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Nodalla saharica (Esben-Petersen, 1920)

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°51.006'N, 41°18.037'E, 1325 m, 5 Mar 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 2♂; ibidem, 2 Nov 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀ and 1♂; ibidem, 19°50'51"N, 41°18'06"E, 1358 m, 9 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 1♀ and 1♂; ibidem, 19°50.329'N, 41°18.604'E, 1563 m, 2 Nov 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 2♀. Asir Province: Abha, Garf Raydah Nature Reserve, 18°11.749'N, 42°23.345'E, 1614 m, 7 May 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 2♀ and 1♂; ibidem, 18°11.695'N, 42°23.818'E, 1897 m, 5 Nov 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀; Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.293'N, 42°22.195'E, 1150 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♀; ibidem, 4 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♂.

Distribution

Africa: throughout northern Africa. Asia: Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. A polycentric Afro-syro-iranoeremic species.

Biology

The biology of N. saharica is largely unknown, as with other Nodalla species. Adults hide deep inside sparse vegetation or crevices and under stones during the day; at night they are attracted to artificial light sources (Aspöck and Aspöck 1998).

Notes

The species was formerly reported in several localities (Aspöck and Aspöck 1998). The listed specimens were collected in mountainous Acacia woodlands, Barbary fig shrublands, and O. europaea communities at different elevations (1150‒1897 m) in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Podallea arabica Aspöck & Aspöck, 1981

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°50'51"N, 41°18'06"E, 1358 m, 9 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 1♂. Asir Province: Abha, Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 16 Apr 2016, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♂ (AL). Jizan Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♀.

Distribution

Endemic to Saudi Arabia.

Notes

The species was previously recorded in Asir Province (Aspöck and Aspöck 1981). The listed adult specimens were collected in sandy and rocky areas with Acacia woodlands at elevations of 136‒1359 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Nemopteridae Burmeister, 1839

Croce aristata (Klug, 1836)

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Makhwah, Wadi Reyam (NE Al Makhwah), 19°50'28"N, 41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 1♀.

Distribution

Africa: widespread in northern Africa, Ethiopia. Asia: Israel, Oman, Saudi Arabia. Polycentric Afro-syroeremic species.

Biology

This species lives in deserted mines and caves, normally hiding under stones (Hafez and El Moursy 1964).

Notes

It was previously collected in Riyadh Province (Meinander 1980). The listed female specimen was collected in foothill Acacia woodlands at low elevation of 473 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Dielocroce berlandi (Navás, 1936)

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Makhwah, Wadi Reyam (NE Al Makhwah), 19°50'28"N, 41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 1♀. Asir Province: Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (3 km N Al Hubail), 18°06'57"N, 42°13'55"E, 462 m, 12 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 5♀.

Distribution

Africa: spread throughout North Africa, Kenya, Sudan. Asia: Israel, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. Polycentric Afro-syroeremic species.

Notes

It was previously collected in Al Madinah Province (Meinander 1980). The listed specimens were found in Acacia woodlands at low elevations of 462‒473 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Dielocroce chobauti (McLachlan, 1898)

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al Asfal, Al-Hamadah, 20°10.750'N, 41°19.072'E, 554 m, 30 Mar 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♀.

Distribution

Africa: widespread in North Africa, Sudan, Somalia. Asia: Israel, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. A possible polycentric Afro-syroeremic species.

Notes

It was previously collected in Asir, Hail and Makkah provinces (Meinander 1980). The listed female specimen was collected in foothill Acacia woodlands at an elevation of 554 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Dielocroce elegans (Alexandrov-Martynov, 1930)

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al Asfal, Al-Hamadah, 20°10.750'N, 41°19.072'E, 554 m, 30 Mar 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♂; 10 km NNW of Al Makhwah, 19°50.47'N, 41°22.40'E, 630 m, 31 Mar 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 5♀ and 4♂. Riyadh Province: Hotat Bani Tamim, Ibex Reserve Protected Area, (W Hotat Bani Tamim), 23°21.07'N, 46°21.36'E, 709 m, 11 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 33♀ and 26♂; ibidem, 1♀ and 1♂ (AL). Riyadh, NW Al Uyaynah, 24°53.33'N, 46°17.40'E, 761 m, 10 Apr 2016, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 2♀; ibidem, 1♀ (AL).

Distribution

Asia: Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen. A Syro-iranoeremic species.

Notes

This species was formerly reported in Asir, Makkah and Riyadh provinces (Meinander 1980). The listed specimens were collected in sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at low elevation (554‒6761 m) in southwestern and central Saudi Arabia.

Dielocroce sp.

Material examined

♀. Riyadh Province: Hotat Bani Tamim, Ibex Reserve Protected Area, (W Hotat Bani Tamim), 23°21.07'N, 46°21.36'E, 709 m, 11 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♀.

Notes

This listed female specimen was collected at an elevation of 709 m among a huge number of D. elegans in sandy Acacia woodlands at low elevation in central Saudi Arabia. It might be D. berlandi (Navás 1936), but the poor condition of the specimen preserved in alcohol resulted in our identification only to the genus level.

Halter halteratus (Forskål, 1775)

Material examined

Riyadh Province: Al Aflag, Farshet Sheaal (NW Al Naifiyah), 22°25.496'N, 46°34.544'E, 606 m, LT, 10 Apr 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀; ibidem, 22°24.381'N, 46°35.594'E, 596 m, LT, 12 Apr 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♂; Wadi Ghaihab (33 km N Layla), 22°19.601'N, 46°24.808’E, 460 m, LT, 10 Apr 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♂. Al Zulfi, Rawdhat Al Sabalah, 26°21.522'N, 44°59.011'E, 664 m, LT, 19 May 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 2♂. Hotat Bani Tamim, Ibex Reserve Protected Area, (W Hotat Bani Tamim), 23°21.07'N, 46°21.36'E, 709 m, 11 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 2♀ and 9♂; ibidem, 1♀ and 1♂ (AL). Ramah, Rawdat Khuraim (100 km NE Riyadh), 25°25.943'N, 47°13.863'E, 572 m, 15 May 2012, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♀ and 1♂; ibidem, 25°22.986'N, 47°16.712'E, 559 m, 28 Apr 2012, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 3♂. Riyadh, Wadi Hanifa, 24°54.422'N, 46°10.903'E, 809 m, LT, 22 Apr 2017, M. Abdel-Dayem et al. leg., 3♂.

Distribution

Africa: widespread in North Africa, Mauritania, Sudan. Asia: Afghanistan, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yemen. A polycentric Afro-syro-iranoeremic species.

Notes

This species was previously collected in Hail, Madinah, Makkah, and Riyadh provinces (Meinander 1980). The listed specimens were collected at low elevations (460‒809 m) in central Saudi Arabia in sandy areas dominated with Acacia woodlands or Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. Aiton (Apocynaceae), or areas cultivated with wheat. Also, two males were collected from Acacia gerrardii Benth. (Fabaceae), in a gravelly area at Wadi Ghaihab, Al Aflag.

Myrmeleontidae Latreille, 1802

Goniocercus walkeri (McLachlan, 1894) (Fig. 3A)

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°52.596'N, 41°18.672'E, 892 m, 21 Apr 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al., 1♀; Wadi Reyam (NE Al Makhwah), 19°50'28"N, 41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 1♀ and 1♂. Riyadh Province: Al Aflag, Farshet Sheaal (NW Al Naifiyah), 22°25.543'N, 46°34.543'E, 589 m, 15 Oct 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀. Ramah, Rawdat Khuraim (100 km NE Riyadh), 25°25.943'N, 47°13.863'E, 572 m, 28 Aug 2012, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem et al. leg., 1♂.

Distribution

Arica: Kenya, Sudan. Asia: Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. A polycentric Afro-syro-iranoeremic species.

Notes

This species was previously reported in Al Bahah Province (Hölzel 1982). The listed specimens were collected in sandy Acacia woodlands at elevations of 473‒892 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia, and from communities of Acacia ehrenbergiana Heyne and Rhazya stricta Decne. (Apocynaceae) at elevations of 572‒589 m in the sandy areas of central Saudi Arabia.

Stenares irroratus Navás, 1912 (Fig. 3B)

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°52.596'N, 41°18.672'E, 892 m, 23 Aug 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg. 2♂. Asir Province: Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (3 km N Al Hubail), 18°07.12'N, 42°13.55'E, 467 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, 1♀ and 1♂. Jizan Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♀.

Distribution

Africa: Egypt. Asia: Israel, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. A Syroeremic species.

Notes

This species was previously reported in Makkah Province (Hölzel 1988). The listed specimens were collected in sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at low elevations (16‒892 m) in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Fadrina formosa (Hölzel, 1981)

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Wadi Reyam (NE Al Makhwah), 19°50'28"N, 41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 1♀.

Distribution

Africa: Egypt, Sudan. Asia: Israel, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. An Afro-syroeremic species.

Notes

This species was previously reported in Asir Province (Hölzel 1982). The listed female specimen was collected in sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at low elevation of 473 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Centroclisis speciosa Hölzel, 1983 (Fig. 3C)

Material examined

Asir Province: Abha, Garf Raydah Nature Reserve, 18°11.695'N, 42°23.818'E, 1897 m, 28 Apr 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀.

Distribution

Asia: Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen. Endemic to the Arabian Peninsula.

Notes

C. speciosa has been widely reported in Saudi Arabia (Saji and Whittington 2008) and was documented in Asir Province (Hölzel 1983). The listed female specimen was collected at an elevation of 1897 m in an Olea europaea (Wall. ex G. Don) Cifferi community.

Myrmecaelurus lepidus (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834)

Material examined

Riyadh Province: Hotat Bani Tamim, Ibex Reserve Protected Area, (W of Hotat Bani Tamim), 23°21.07'N, 46°21.36'E, 709 m, 11 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 2♀ and 2♂; ibidem, 1♀ and 2♂ (AL).

Distribution

Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia. Asia: Oman, Saudi Arabia. A polycentric Afro-syroeremic species.

Biology

This species is poorly known and is usually reported in savannah habitats (Güsten 2002).

Notes

Hölzel (1982) reported this species for the Riyadh Province. The listed adult specimens were collected at an elevation of 709 m in sandy areas with Acacia woodlands in central Saudi Arabia.

Iranoleon arabicus Hölzel, 1982

Material examined

Riyadh Province: Hotat Bani Tamim, Ibex Reserve Protected Area, (W of Hotat Bani Tamim), 23°21.07'N, 46°21.36'E, 709 m, 11 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 8♀ and 14♂; ibidem, 2♀ and 2♂ (AL).

Distribution

Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates. An endemic species to the Arabian Peninsula.

Notes

This record is one of the five published localities where this species was collected in Riyadh Province (Hölzel 1982), with large numbers of specimens being preserved in collections. The listed adult specimens were collected at an elevation of 709 m in sandy areas with Acacia woodlands in central Saudi Arabia.

Lopezus fedtschenkoi (McLachlan in Fedchenko, 1875)

Material examined

Riyadh Province: Al Quwaiiyah, Rawdhat Al Harmaliyah, 24°17.433'N, 45°08.493'E, 796 m, 17 Apr 2015, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem et al. leg. 1♂; 24°17.864’N, 45°08.746’E, 786 m, 19 Apr 2015, PT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem et al. leg. 1♂.

Distribution

Widespread in southern Palearctic region. Africa: Algeria, Tunisia. Asia: Saudi Arabia. An Afro-syroeremic species.

Biology

Lopezus fedtschenkoi is associated with desert biotopes.

Notes

It was reported in Riyadh Province (Hölzel 1982). These specimens were collected from sandy areas with Acacia (Acacia gerrardii and A. ehrenbergiana) woodlands at elevations of 786‒796 m in central Saudi Arabia.

Gepus invisus Navás, 1912 (Fig. 3E)

Material examined

Riyadh Province: Al Quwaiiyah, Rawdhat Al Harmaliyah, 24°17.433’N, 45°08.493'E, 796 m, 25 Aug 2015, SW, M.S. Abdel-Dayem et al. leg. 1♂. Al Zulfi, Rawdhat Al-Sabalah, 26°22.056'N, 44°59.136'E, 671 m, 29 Aug 2015, PT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem et al. leg. 1♂.

Distribution

Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia. Asia: Israel, Iran, Iraq, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen. A polycentric Afro-syro-iranoeremic species.

Biology

This species is associated with desert biotopes.

Notes

This species was reported in the Eastern, Madinah, and Riyadh provinces (Hölzel 1982). The listed male specimens were collected at elevations of 671‒796 m in sandy areas with milkweed trees, Calotropis procera, and sandy areas with Acacia woodlands, Acacia ehrenbergiana, and A. gerrardii Benth. (Fabaceae), in central Saudi Arabia.

Solter buettikeri Hölzel, 1982

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°50.329'N, 41°18.604'E, 1563 m, 29 Mar 2017, ST, 1♂; Wadi Reyam (NE Al Makhwah), 19°50'28"N, 41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 9♀ and 7♂; ibidem, 1♀ and 1♂ (AL).

Distribution

An endemic species to Saudi Arabia.

Notes

This study presents the first report of this species after the original description from Riyadh Province, based on two males (Hölzel 1982). The listed specimens were collected by light traps in a sandy area with Acacia woodlands at low elevation (473 m) and by sugar traps in a rocky area with a Barbary fig shrub community at high elevation (1563 m) in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Solter propheticus Hölzel, 1981

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°50'51"N, 41°18'06"E, 1358 m, 9 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 1♂.

Distribution

Africa: Egypt, Sudan. Asia: Israel, Saudi Arabia. An Afro-syroeremic species.

Notes

The species was previously reported in several localities (Hölzel 1998). The listed male specimen was collected with light trap at an elevation of 1358 m in a rocky area with Acacia woodlands in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Cueta amseli Hölzel, 1982

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°52.598'N, 41°18.672'E, 892 m, 23 Aug 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♂; ibidem, 14 Nov 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 2♀; 19°51.762'N, 41°18.089'E, 1225 m, 23 Oct 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 3♀ and 2♂; ibidem, 2 Sep 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀ and 2♂; ibidem, 17 Oct 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 4♀ and 3♂; ibidem, 15 Nov 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 3♂; ibidem, 19°51.066'N, 41°18.037'E, 1325, 23 Aug 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 5♀ and 11♂; ibidem, 2 Sep 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 3♀ and 4♂; ibidem, 17 Oct 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀ and 1♂; ibidem, 19°50'51"N, 41°18'06"E, 1358 m, 9 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 1♂; ibidem, 19°50.710'N, 41°18.267'E, 1474 m, 23 Aug 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 9♀ and 7♂; ibidem, 2 Sep 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 3♀ and 2♂; ibidem, 17 Oct 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀ and 2♂; ibidem, 19°50.411'N, 41°18.686'E, 1611 m, 23 Aug 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 5♀ and 9♂; ibidem, 2 Sep 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀ and 1♂. Asir Province: Abha, Garf Raydah Nature Reserve, 18°11.749'N, 42°23.345'E, 1614 m, 24 Feb 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀ and 2♂; ibidem, 5 Sep 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 2♀ and 2♂; ibidem, 18°11.766'N, 42°24.315'E, 2285 m, 6 Jun 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀; ibidem, 31 Jul 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀; Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 5♀ and 1♂; ibidem, 11–13 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 1♂.

Distribution

Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. An endemic species to the Arabian Peninsula.

Biology

Unknown, possibly a pit builder in arid biotopes, like congeners.

Notes

This record is the second locality published for Saudi Arabia, with it being previously collected in Asir Province (Hölzel 1982), with a large number of specimens being preserved in collections. The specimens were collected from mountainous Acacia woodlands, Barbary fig shrubland, and O. europaea communities at different elevations (892‒2285 m) in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Cueta asirica Hölzel, 1982

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°52.598'N, 41°18.672'E, 892 m, 26 Jan 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♂; ibidem, 19°50.575'N, 41°18.691'E, 1666 m, 27 Jul 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀. Asir Province: Abha, Garf Raydah Nature Reserve, 18°11.749'N, 42°23.345'E, 1614 m, 6 Jun 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀ and 2♂; ibidem, 18°11.884'N, 42°24.435'E, 2387 m, 6 Jun 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀; Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.293'N, 42°22.195'E, 1150 m, 1 Apr 2017, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., LT, 2♀ and 4♂; ibidem, 1♀ and 1♂ (AL); ibidem, 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 7♀ and 8♂. Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (2 km N Al Hubail), 18°07.12'N, 42°13.55'E, 489 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♀.

Distribution

This species is endemic to Saudi Arabia.

Biology

Unknown, possibly a pit builder in arid biotopes, like congeners.

Notes

These records represent new localities, with this species previously being collected in Al Bahah Province (Hölzel 1982), with a large number of specimens being preserved in collections. The listed specimens were collected by light traps in Acacia woodlands growing on both sandy and rocky soils, and from Barbary fig shrublands and O. europaea communities, at different elevations (489‒2387 m) in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Cueta lineosa (Rambur, 1842)

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, 10 km NNW of Al Makhwah, 20°10.750'N, 41°19.072'E, 554 m, 30 Mar 2017, LT, S.A. El-Sonbati leg., 2♀ and 1♂; Wadi Reyam (NE Al Makhwah), 19°50'28"N, 41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 1♂. Jizan Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°51.56'N, 42°16.21'E, 139 m, 3 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 2♀ and 3♂. Riyadh Province: Hotat Bani Tamim, Ibex Reserve Protected Area (W Hotat Bani Tamim), 23°21.07'N, 46°21.36'E, 709 m, 11 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 2♀ and 5♂. Ramah, Rawdat Khuraim (100 km NE Riyadh), 25°23.13'N, 47°16.45'E, 550 m, 9 Apr 2016, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♂ (AL).

Distribution

Africa: Egypt, Djibouti, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia; Asia: Afghanistan, Cyprus, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Yemen. Europe: Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, North Macedonia. It is a Palaearctic species.

Biology

This antlion species is common in deserts and steppe-like habitats on the southern edge of the Western Palaearctic. C. lineosa larvae construct pits by digging traps in exposed conditions (Badano et al. 2018).

Notes

This species was previously documented in various Saudi provinces, including Asir, Al Bahah, Eastern Province, Jizan, Madinah, and Riyadh (Hölzel 1982). The listed adult specimens were collected in sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at low elevations (139‒554 m) in southwestern Saudi Arabia and Rhazya stricta communities at elevations of 550‒709 m in central Saudi Arabia.

Cueta pallens (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834)

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al Asfal, Al Hamadah, 20°10.750'N, 41°19.072'E, 554 m, 30 Mar 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♀; 10 km NNW of Al Makhwah, 20°10.750'N, 41°19.072'E, 554 m, 30 Mar 2017, LT, S.A. El-Sonbati leg., 1♂. Asir Province: Abha, Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.293'N, 42°22.195'E, 1150 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 6♀ and 5♂; ibidem, 4 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♀ and 2♂; ibidem, 1♀ and 1♂ (AL); ibidem, 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 26♀ and 5♂. Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (2 km N Al Hubail), 18°06.981'N, 42°13.939'E, 451 m, 3 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem and I. Rasool leg., 1♀; ibidem, 18°07.12'N, 42°13.55'E, 489 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 5♀. Jizan Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♀. Riyadh Province: Hotat Bani Tamim, Ibex Reserve Protected Area, (W Hotat Bani Tamim), 23°21.07'N, 46°21.36'E, 709 m, 11 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 2♀ and 1♂.

Distribution

Africa. North Africa (widespread), sub-Saharan Africa, Niger, Madagascar. Asia: Israel, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. A polycentric Afro-syroeremic species.

Biology

Cueta pallens is possibly a pit builder in arid biotopes, like congeners.

Notes

This species was previously reported in Makkah and Riyadh provinces (Hölzel 1982). The listed specimens were collected from sandy and rocky areas with Acacia woodlands at elevations of 136–1150 m in southwestern and central Saudi Arabia.

Myrmeleon caliginosus Hölzel & Ohm, 1983

Material examined

Asir Province: Abha, Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♀.

Distribution

Africa: North Africa (widespread), Cabo Verde (islands: widespread). Asia: Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. An Afrotropical species.

Biology

The larvae are pit-builders that are associated with sandy shorelines and wide, dry sand-covered habitats (Hölzel and Ohm 1983).

Notes

This species was previously collected in Asir and Al Bahah provinces (Hölzel 1988). The listed female specimen was collected from a rocky area with Acacia woodlands in the highlands (1197 m elevation) of southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Myrmeleon fasciatus (Navás, 1912)

Material examined

Asir Province: Abha, Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 11–13 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 1♀. Khamis Mushait, Wadi Ibn Hashbal (14 km N Khamis Mushait), 18°27.34'N, 42°42.53'E, 1926 m, 2 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♂.

Distribution

Africa: northern Africa (widespread). Asia: Israel, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. Europe: Greece. A polycentric Afro-syroeremic species.

Biology

Myrmeleon fasciatus inhabits very warm and xeric biotopes, including deserts. The larva builds pits in sheltered areas, such as beneath overhangs and cavities of sedimentary rocks, in very fine detritus or sand (Badano and Pantaleoni 2014).

Notes

This species was previously reported in Al Bahah, Madinah, and Riyadh provinces (Hölzel 1982). The listed specimens were collected from mountainous Acacia woodlands at elevations of 1197‒1926 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Bankisus maculosus Hölzel, 1983

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°51.762'N, 41°18.089'E, 1225 m, 17 Oct 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 2♀; ibidem, 19°50.411'N, 41°18.686'E, 1611 m, 20 Apr 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀; Asir Province: Abha, Garf Raydah Nature Reserve, 18°11.749'N, 42°23.345'E, 1614 m, 7 May 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♂; ibidem, 31 Jul 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀; ibidem, 18°11.618'N, 42°23.420'E, 1772 m, 31 Jul 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀; ibidem, 18°11.679'N, 42°23.691'E, 1851 m, 31 Jul 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♂; ibidem, 26 Aug 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀, 1♂; 18°11.695'N, 42°23.818'E, 1897 m, 31 Jul 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 2♂; ibidem, 18°11.884'N, 42°24.435'E, 2387 m, 31 Jul 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 2♀; Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha, near Wadi Mashwas), 18°10.293'N, 42°22.195'E, 1150 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♀; ibidem, 4 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♀; ibidem, 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 3♀; 11–13 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 1♀ and 1♂; ibidem, 16 Apr 2016, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 2♂ (AL).

Distribution

Asia: Oman, Yemen. An endemic species of the Arabian Peninsula.

Notes

This study presents the first report of the species in Saudi Arabia. The specimens were collected from rocky areas with Acacia woodlands, Barbary fig shrublands, and O. europaea communities at different elevations (1150‒2387 m) in the mountains of southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Omoleon jeanneli Navás, 1936 (Fig. 3D)

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°52.596'N, 41°18.672'E, 892 m, 21 Apr 2014, LT, H. Al Dhafer et al. leg. 1ex.

Distribution

Africa: Ethiopia, Kenya. An Afrotropical species.

Notes

This study presents the first report of the species in Saudi Arabia and Arabian Peninsula. The listed specimen was collected in mountainous Acacia woodlands at an elevation of 892 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Geyria lepidula (Navás, 1912)

Material examined

Riyadh Province: Ramah, Rawdat Khuraim (100 km NE Riyadh), 25°25.943'N, 47°13.863'E, 572 m, 28 Aug 2012, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1ex; ibidem, 28 Aug 2012, SW (on Rhazya stricta), M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1ex; ibidem, 24 Sept 2012, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1ex; ibidem, 25°22.986'N, 47°16.712'E, 559 m, 28 Aug 2012, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1ex; ibidem, 9 Sep 2012, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 2ex.

Distribution

Africa: Egypt (including Sinai), Sudan. Asia: India, Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates. It is an Afro-syro-iranoeremic species.

Notes

This species was previously recorded in Baha, Makkah, and Riyadh provinces (Hölzel, 1982). The listed specimens were collected from sandy areas dominated with Rhazya stricta and Acacia ehrenbergiana at elevations of 572‒559 m in central Saudi Arabia.

Geyria pallida Hölzel, 1983

Material examined

Riyadh Province: Hotat Bani Tamim, Ibex Reserve Protected Area, (W Hotat Bani Tamim), 23°21.07'N, 46°21.36'E, 709 m, 11 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♀; ibidem, 1♀ (AL).

Distribution

Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates. An Arabian endemic species.

Notes

This species was originally described from Eastern Province (Hölzel 1983). The new locality listed here represents a distributional extension for this species. The specimens were collected in sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at an elevation of 709 m in central Saudi Arabia.

Neuroleon asirensis Hölzel, 1983

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°50'51"N, 41°18'06"E, 1358 m, 9 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 2♀ and 2♂. Asir Province: Khamis Mushait, Wadi Ibn Hashbal (14 km N Khamis Mushait), 1926 m, 18°27.34'N, 42°42.53'E, 2 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1ex. Jizan Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 2♀.

Distribution

Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates. A possible Syro-iranoeremic species.

Notes

This species was previously recorded in Asir, Al Bahah, and Makkah provinces (Hölzel 1983). The listed specimens were collected from Acacia woodlands in the lowlands and highlands (136‒1926 m elevation) of southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Neuroleon delicatus Hölzel, 1983

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°50.411'N, 41°18.686'E, 1611 m, 17 Nov 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 4♀; Wadi Reyam (NE Al Makhwah), 19°50'28"N, 41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 2♀ and 3♂. Asir Province: Abha, Garf Raydah Nature Reserve, 18°11.749'N, 42°23.345'E, 1614 m, 20 Oct 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀; ibidem, 18°11.679'N, 42°23.691'E, 1851 m, 20 Oct 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀; Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♀ and 1♂. Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (2 km N Al Hubail), 18°07.12'N, 42°13.55'E, 489 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♀ and 1♂; ibidem, 1♀ (AL). Jizan Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°51.56'N, 42°16.21'E, 139 m, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♀; ibidem, 3 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♀.

Distribution

Asia: An endemic species to Saudi Arabia.

Notes

This is the first report of this species since it was first described from Asir and Jizan Provinces (Hölzel 1983). The specimens were collected in sandy and rocky areas with Acacia woodlands and Barbary fig shrublands at different elevations (136‒1614 m) in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Neuroleon leptaleus (Navás, 1912)

Material examined

Riyadh Province: Hotat Bani Tamim, Ibex Reserve Protected Area, (W Hotat Bani Tamim), 23°21.07'N, 46°21.36'E, 709 m, 11 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♂.

Distribution

Africa: Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia. Asia: Iran, Iraq, Israel, Oman, Saudi Arabia. A polycentric Afro-syro-iranoeremic species.

Notes

It was previously reported in Eastern, Madinah, and Riyadh provinces (Hölzel 1982). The listed specimen was collected from sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at an elevation of 709 m in central Saudi Arabia.

Neuroleon lugubris (Navás, 1926)

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°52.598'N, 41°18.672'E, 892 m, 3 Mar 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♂; ibidem, 19°51.762'N, 41°18.089'E, 1225 m, 21 Apr 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 2♀; ibidem, 19°50'51"N, 41°18'06"E, 1358 m, 9 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 2♀; ibidem, 19°50.575'N, 41°18.691'E, 1666 m, 20 Apr 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀. Asir Province: Abha, Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.293'N, 42°22.195'E, 1150 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 2♀; ibidem, 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 2♀ and 1♂; ibidem, 1♀ (AL). Khamis Mushait, Wadi Ibn Hashbal (14 km N Khamis Mushait), 18°27.34'N, 42°42.53'E, 1926 m, 2 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♀. Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (3 km N Al Hubail), 18°06.981'N, 42°13.939'E, 451 m, 3 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem and I. Rasool leg., 1♀ and 1♂; ibidem, 18°07.12'N, 42°13.55'E, 489 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 5♀ and 1♂. Jizan Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 2♀ and 2♂. Riyadh Province: Hotat Bani Tamim, Ibex Reserve Protected Area, (W Hotat Bani Tamim), 23°21.07'N, 46°21.36'E, 709 m, 11 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 5♀.

Distribution

Africa: Egypt, Sudan. Asia: Israel, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. A polycentric Afro-syroeremic species.

Notes

This species was previously reported in the provinces of Asir, Al Bahah, Jizan, and Makkah (Hölzel 1982). They were collected from sandy and rocky areas with Acacia woodlands and Barbary fig shrubs at elevations of 136‒1926 m in southwestern and central Saudi Arabia.

Neuroleon modestus (Navás, 1912)

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Makhwah, Wadi Reyam (NE Al Makhwah), 19°50'28"N, 41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 1♀. Asir Province: Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (2 km N Al Hubail), 18°07.12'N, 42°13.55'E, 489 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♀.

Distribution

Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali. Asia: Saudi Arabia, Yemen. An Afrotropical species.

Biology

Neuroleon modestus occurs in grass savannas and grassy vegetation in cultivated areas (Michel and Akoudjin 2012).

Notes

This species was reported by Hölzel (1988) as Neuroleon sociorum Hölzel and Ohm in Asir Province. The listed female specimens were collected with light trap in sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at low elevations of 473‒489 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Neuroleon pardalice (Banks, 1911) (Fig. 3F)

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°52.598'N, 41°18.672'E, 892 m, 3 Mar 2015, LT, M. Mostafa et al. leg., 1♀; ibidem, 19°51.762'N, 41°18.089'E, 1225 m, 21 Apr 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♂; ibidem, 19°50'51"N, 41°18'06"E, 1358 m, 9 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 2♀.

Distribution

Africa: Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Sudan. Asia: Saudi Arabia, Yemen. An Afrotropical species.

Notes

This species was previously reported in Al Bahah and Asir provinces (Hölzel 1982). The specimens were collected with light traps in sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at 892–1358 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Neuroleon tenellus (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834)

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°51.682'N, 41°18.263'E, 1291 m, 29 Mar 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♂. Asir Province: Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (3 km N Al Hubail), 18°06.981'N, 42°13.939'E, 451 m, 3 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem and I. Rasool leg., 5♀ and 1♂; ibidem, 18°07.12'N, 42°13.55'E, 489 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 17♀ and 1♂; ibidem, 1♀ and 1♂ (AL). Jizan Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♂; ibidem, 17°51.56'N, 42°16.21'E, 139 m, 3 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♂. Riyadh Province: Riyadh, NW Al Uyaynah, 24°53.33'N, 46°17.40'E, 761 m, 10 Apr 2016, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 2♀ and 1♂ (AL).

Distribution

Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Sudan, Tunisia. Asia: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Israel, Iran, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan. Europe: Greece, North Macedonia. A polycentric Afro-asianeremic species.

Biology

Neuroleon tenellus is not well known and is usually documented in arid habitats. The larvae have not been documented (Aspöck et al. 1980; Badano et al. 2018).

Notes

The species was previously documented in Eastern Province and Riyadh provinces (Hölzel 1982). The specimens were collected in Acacia woodlands on both rocky and sandy soils at elevations of 136‒1291 m in southwestern and central Saudi Arabia.

Neuroleon virgineus Hölzel, 1983

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Makhwah, Wadi Reyam (NE Al Makhwah), 19°50'28"N, 41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 4♀ and 1♂; ibidem, 1♀ and 1♂ (AL).

Distribution

Asia: An endemic species to Saudi Arabia.

Notes

This study presents the first record of this species after the original description from Makka Province (Hölzel 1983). The listed specimens were collected from sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at low elevation of 473 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Distoleon asiricus Hölzel, 1983

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°51.066’N, 41°18.037’E, 1325, 20 Apr 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♂. Asir Province: Abha, Garf Raydah Nature Reserve, 18°11.749'N, 42°23.345'E, 1614 m, 6 Jun 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♂; ibidem, 31 Jul 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀; ibidem, 20 Oct 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀; ibidem, 18°11.618'N, 42°23.420'E, 1772 m, 31 Jul 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀; ibidem, 18°11.679'N, 42°23.691'E, 1851 m, 6 Jun 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀ and 3♂; ibidem, 20 Oct 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀; ibidem, 18°11.766'N, 42°24.315'E, 2285 m, 6 Jun 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀; ibidem, 31 Jul 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♂; ibidem, 18°11.884'N, 42°24.435'E, 2387 m, 28 Apr 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀; ibidem, 6 Jun 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 2♀ and 1♂; ibidem, 18°12.095'N, 42°24.536'E, 2578 m, 6 Jun 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀; ibidem, 20 Oct 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀; Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.293'N, 42°22.195'E, 1150 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♀; ibidem, 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 16 Apr 2016, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♂; ibidem, 1♀ (AL). Riyadh Province: Hotat Bani Tamim, Ibex Reserve Protected Area, (W Hotat Bani Tamim), 23°21.07'N, 46°21.36'E, 709 m, 11 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♀ and 2♂.

Distribution

Asia: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen. An endemic species to the Arabian Peninsula.

Biology

The listed records present further localities in Saudi Arabia from where this species has been recently described.

Notes

It was previously reported in Asir and Al Bahah provinces in southwestern Saudi Arabia (Hölzel 1983). The listed specimens were collected from rocky areas with Acacia woodlands, Barbary fig shrublands, and juniper forest at high elevations (1150‒2387 m) in southwestern Saudi Arabia, and in sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at an elevation of 709 m in the central regions of Saudi Arabia.

Distoleon laticollis (Navás, 1913)

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mandaq, Wadi Tourabah (E of An Na’Amah), 20°11'01"N, 41°18'42"E, 1826 m, 6 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 1♀. Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°52.598'N, 41°18.672'E, 892 m, 2 Mar 2015, LT, A. Mostafa leg., 1♂; ibidem, 19°50'51"N, 41°18'06"E, 1358 m, 9 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 1♀. Asir Province: Abha, WSW of Abha, Garf Raydah Nature Reserve, 18°11.749'N, 42°23.345'E, 1614 m, 5 Nov 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀; ibidem, 18°11.679'N, 42°23.691'E, 1851 m, 6 Jun 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀. Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.293'N, 42°22.195'E, 1150 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♂; ibidem, 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 2♀ and 3♂; ibidem, 16 Apr 2016, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♂; ibidem, 1♂ (AL). Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (2 km N Al Hubail), 18°07.12'N, 42°13.55'E, 489 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♂. Riyadh Province: Hotat Bani Tamim, Ibex Reserve Protected Area, (W Hotat Bani Tamim), 23°21.07'N, 46°21.36'E, 709 m, 11 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♀ and 1♂.

Distribution

Africa: Ethiopia, Sudan. Asia: Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey. A polycentric Afro-syroeremic species.

Biology

Mainly unknown, associated with arid environments (Badano et al. 2018).

Notes

This species was previously recorded in the mountains of southwestern Saudi Arabia, from Al Bahah and Makkah provinces (Hölzel 1982). The listed specimens were collected in Acacia woodlands in rocky and sandy soils and in rocky areas with Barbary fig shrub communities at different elevations (489‒1851 m) in southwestern and central Saudi Arabia.

Nemoleon secundus (Hölzel, 2002)

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al Asfal, Al-Hamadah, 20°10.750'N, 41°19.072'E, 554 m, 30 Mar 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 5♀ and 1♂; ibidem, 1♀ and 1♂ (AL); Wadi Reyam (NE Al Makhwah), 19°50'28"N, 41°22'34"E, 473 m, 7 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 1♀ and 4♂.

Distribution

Asia: Oman, Yemen. An endemic species to the Arabian Peninsula.

Notes

This study presents the first report in Saudi Arabia, with this species recently being described from Oman and Yemen (Hölzel, 2002). The listed specimens were collected from foothill Acacia woodlands at elevations of 473‒554 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Pseudoformicaleo gracilis (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834)

Material examined

Asir Province: Abha, Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 16 Apr 2016, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1ex. (AL).

Distribution

Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia. Asia: Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen. A polycentric Afro-syro-iranoeremic species.

Notes

This species was previously recorded in east and southwest Saudi Arabia, in Eastern Province and Makkah provinces, respectively (Hölzel 1982). The listed specimen was collected from mountainous Acacia woodlands at an elevation of 1197 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Creoleon elegans Hölzel, 1968

Material examined

Asir Province: Abha, Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 1 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 2♀.

Distribution

Asia: Israel, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria. Syro-iranoeremic species.

Biology

The larvae possibly inhabit sandy soils, like congeners.

Notes

This species was previously reported in central (Riyadh Province) and southwestern (Makkah Province) Saudi Arabia (Hölzel 1982). The listed specimens were collected from rocky areas with Acacia woodlands at an elevation of 1197 m in the highlands of southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Creoleon griseus (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834)

Material examined

Asir Province: Khamis Mushait, Wadi Ibn Hashbal (14 km N Khamis Mushait), 18°27.34'N, 42°42.53'E, 1926 m, 2 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♂.

Distribution

Africa: Egypt, Senegal, Sudan, Tunisia. Asia: Afghanistan, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yemen. Europe: Spain. A widespread polycentric Afro-syro-iranoeremic species.

Biology

The larva possibly inhabits sandy soils, like congeners.

Notes

It was previously recorded in central Saudi Arabia, in Riyadh Province (Hölzel 1982). The listed male specimen was collected from sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at an elevation of 192 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Creoleon persicus Hölzel, 1972

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al Asfal, Al-Hamadah, 20°10.750'N, 41°19.072'E, 554 m, 30 Mar 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♀. Asir Province: Khamis Mushait, Wadi Ibn Hashbal (14 km N Khamis Mushait), 18°27.34'N, 42°42.53'E, 1926 m, 2 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♀.

Distribution

Asia: Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia. A Syro-iranoeremic species.

Biology

The larva possibly inhabits sandy soils, like congeners.

Notes

It was documented in northern and southwestern Saudi Arabia, in Tabouk, Asir and Riyadh provinces (Hölzel 1982). The listed specimens were attracted to light traps in sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at elevations between 554‒1926 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Creoleon ultimus Hölzel, 1983

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°50'51"N, 41°18'06"E, 1358 m, 9 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 1♀ and 1♂. Asir Province: Khamis Mushait, Wadi Ibn Hashbal (14 km N Khamis Mushait), 18°27.558'N, 42°42.876'E, 1926 m, 2 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♂.

Distribution

Asia: An endemic species to Saudi Arabia.

Biology

The larva possibly inhabits sandy soils, like congeners.

Notes

This study presents the first report of this species after the original description, based on one male and one female collected in Al Bahah Province in southwestern Saudi Arabia (Hölzel 1983). The listed male specimens were collected in sandy and rocky areas with Acacia woodlands at elevations of 1358‒1926 m in the highlands of southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Ascalaphidae Lefèbvre, 1842

Ascalaphus festivus (Rambur, 1842)

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mandaq, Wadi Turubah, 20°14.369'N, 41°15.234'E, 1757 m, 3 Jun 2012, H. Al Dhafer et al. leg., 3♀. Asir Province: Al Magardah, Wadi Al Talalie, 18°59.840'N, 41°43.910'E, 242 m, 1 Jun 2012, B. Kondratiff and H. Al Dahfer leg., SW, 1♀. Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (3 km N Al Hubail), 18°06.981'N, 42°13.939'E, 451 m, 3 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem and I. Rasool leg., 1♂; ibidem, 18°06'57"N, 42°13'55"E, 462 m, 12 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi et al. leg., 1♀ (AL); ibidem, 18°07.12'N, 42°13.55'E, 489 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 3♂. Jizan Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♀.

Distribution

Africa: widespread, including Cabo Verde and Madagascar. Asia: Israel, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen. Europe: Italy. An Afrotropical species.

Biology

It is commonly collected with light traps in open savannah areas that are sometimes cultivated or grazed by cattle (Tjeder 1980).

Notes

This species was previously reported in Eastern Province, Jizan, and Riyadh provinces (Hölzel 1983). The specimens were collected in sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at elevations of 136‒1757 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Stylascalaphus krueperi (van der Weele, 1909) (Fig. 3G)

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°52.598'N, 41°18.672'E, 892 m, 24 Apr 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀; ibidem, 23 Aug 2014, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀.

Distribution

Africa: Algeria, Morocco (Ábrahám 2017), Egypt. Asia: Jordan, Syria. An Afro-syroeremic species.

Notes

This species is a new listing for fauna in the Arabian Peninsula. The listed female specimens were collected in sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at an elevation of 892 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Aspoeckiella gallagheri Hölzel, 2004 (Fig. 3H)

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°57.686'N, 41°18.262'E, 607 m, 9 Apr 2019, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♀. Jizan Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°51.56'N, 42°16.21'E, 139 m, 3 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♂.

Distribution

Asia: Oman, United Arab Emirates. An endemic species to the Arabian Peninsula.

Notes

This study presents the first report of this species in Saudi Arabia, which was originally described from Oman and the United Arab Emirates (Hölzel 2004). The listed specimens were collected at low elevations (139‒607 m) in sandy areas with Acacia woodlands in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Bubopsis hamata (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834)

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature Reserve, 19°50.51'N, 41°18.06'E, 1358 m, 14 Apr 2016, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♀. Riyadh Province: Hotat Bani Tamim, Ibex Reserve Protected Area (W Hotat Bani Tamim), 23°21.07'N, 46°21.36'E, 709 m, 11 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 2♂ (AL). Riyadh, Wadi Hanifa, 24°54.422'N, 46°10.903'E, 809 m, LT, 22 Apr 2017, M. Abdel-Dayem et al. leg., 1♀ and 2♂.

Distribution

Africa: Egypt. Asia: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates. Europe: Greece. An Asianeremic species.

Biology

It is frequently collected by light traps; adults tend to inhabit steppe-like habitats, and rocky grasslands with long stalks (Dobosz and Ábrahám 2007).

Notes

The species was previously reported in Asir, Madinah, and Riyadh provinces (Hölzel 1983). The listed specimens were collected with light traps in mountainous areas and sandy areas with Acacia woodlands at elevations of 709‒1358 m in southwestern and central Saudi Arabia, respectively.

Tmesibasis larseni Hölzel, 1983

Material examined

Al Bahah Province: Al Mekhwah, Shada Al-A’Ala Nature, 19°51.066'N, 41°18.037'E, 1325 m, 24 Feb 2014, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♂; ibidem, 19°50.51'N, 41°18.06'E, 1358 m, 14 Apr 2016, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♀ (AL). Asir Province: Abha, WSW of Abha, Garf Raydah Nature Reserve, 18°11.749'N, 42°23.345'E, 1614 m, 24 Mar 2014, LT, S.A. El-Sonbati leg., 1♀; ibidem, 5 Sep 2015, LT, Al Dhafer et al. leg., 1♀; Wadi Marabah (WSW Abha), 18°10.18'N, 42°22.12'E, 1197 m, 16 Apr 2016, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♂ (AL). Rijal Almaa, Wadi Kasan (2 km N Al Hubail), 18°07.12'N, 42°13.55'E, 489 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, D. Baiocchi leg., 1♀. Jizan Province: Al Darb, Wadi Reem, 17°52.551'N, 42°16.664'E, 136 m, 5 Apr 2017, LT, M.S. Abdel-Dayem leg., 1♀.

Distribution

Asia: Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. An endemic species to the Arabian Peninsula.

Notes

The listed records for this species extend existing published Saudi Arabian localities from Gizan, based on a single female specimen (Hölzel 1983). The listed specimens were collected in rocky and sandy areas with Acacia woodlands and rocky areas with Barbary fig shrub communities at elevations of 136‒1358 m in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Discussion

Between 2014 and 2019, specimens of 61 lacewing species belonging to seven families were collected in Saudi Arabia. Also, two species belonging to Dielocroce and Pseudomallada were identified only to genus level. The families included are: Ascalaphidae (5 species), Berothidae (3 species), Chrysopidae (10 species), Hemerobiidae (1 species), Mantispidae (2 species), Myrmeleontidae (36 species), and Nemopteridae (6 species). This list includes six new species records for the country. Of these, three species are new records to the Arabian Peninsula: Mantispa aphavexelte Aspöck & Aspöck, Omoleon jeanneli Navás, and Stylascalaphus krueperi (van der Weele). The other three are new records to Saudi Arabia only: Aspoeckiella gallagheri Hölzel, Bankisus maculosus Hölzel and Nemoleon secundus (Hölzel). Notably, Mantispa aphavexelte was recorded close to the southern boundary of its distributional range. This study also provides the first record for eight species since their original description: Creoleon ultimus Hölzel, Cueta amseli Hölzel, C. asirica Hölzel, Distoleon asiricus Hölzel, Geyria pallida Hölzel, Neuroleon delicatus Hölzel, Neuroleon virgineus Hölzel, and Solter buettikeri Hölzel.

Many of the lacewing species documented in this study are characteristic of fauna from eremial bioregions (47.5%; Fig. 2), particularly Afro-syroeremic species (14 spp., 23.0%), followed by Afro-syro-iranoeremic species (9 spp., 14.8) and Afrotropical species (11 spp., 18.0%). Three species were representatives of Palaearctic species (4.9%): Cueta lineosa (Rambur), Mantispa aphavexelte Aspöck & Aspöck and Pseudomallada venosus (Rambur). Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) was the only species that had a wide distributional range (Afrotropical, Oriental and Palaearctic regions). These findings confirm that the lacewing species recorded in Saudi Arabia have strong relationships with the eremic fauna of North Africa (Afroeremic) and Asia (Syroeremic, Iranoeremic, and Turanoeremic), as well as the Afrotropical fauna. The high percentage of eremic (Saharo-Arabian and Saharo-Sindian) components in the fauna of Saudi Arabia has been previously documented (Larsen 1984; Penati and Vienan 2006; Abel-Dayem et al. 2017, 2018, 2019).

Figure 2.

Zoogeographical composition of lacewing fauna in Saudi Arabia 1 afro-syroeremic 2 afrotropical 3 Arabian Endemic 4 afro-syro-iranoeremic 5 Saudi Endemic 6 syro-iranoeremic 7 palaearctic 8 afro-asianeremic 9 asianeremic 10 Palaearctic-Afrotropical-Oriental 11 syroeremic.

A large number of species are endemic to Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Peninsula (16 spp., 26.2%). Creoleon ultimus Hölzel, Cueta asirica Hölzel, Neuroleon delicatus Hölzel, N. virgineus Hölzel, Podallea arabica Aspöck & Aspöck, and Solter buettikeri Hölzel, are known as endemic to Saudi Arabia. Ten species are endemic to the Arabian Peninsula, being distributed in Oman, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen: Aspoeckiella gallagheri Hölzel, Bankisus maculosus Hölzel, Centroclisis speciosa Hölzel, Cueta amseli Hölzel, Distoleon asiricus Hölzel, Geyria pallida Hölzel, Iranoleon arabicus Hölzel, Nemoleon secundus (Hölzel), Pseudomallada arabicus (Hölzel), and Tmesibasis larseni Hölzel. The southwestern region of Saudi Arabia is particularly rich in insect species (Larsen 1984; Abuzinada et al. 2001; Ziani et al. 2019), reflecting the high number of endemic lacewing species that are mostly syroeremic species (Hölzel 1998). A high percentage of endemic species to Saudi Arabia are emerging partly because current knowledge on Afrotropical and Oriental fauna is limited and partly because the Arabian Peninsula is in the transitional zone between Palaearctic and Afrotropical regions, as well as being close to Oriental regions.

Figure 3.

Habitus of lacewing species in Saudi Arabia A Goniocercus walkeri B Stenares irroratus C Centroclisis speciosa D Omoleon jeanneli E Gepus invisus F Neuroleon pardalice G Stylascalaphus krueperi H Aspoeckiella gallagheri.

According to Oswald (2019), 170 lacewing taxa are known from Saudi Arabia in addition to six new country records from our study (Appendix I). We listed 61 species of the (now) 176 taxa known from Saudi Arabia, so we sampled and reported a little more than one third (34.7%) of the total known Neuropterida fauna of Saudi Arabia. The most prominent in our survey, is the absence of Coniopterygidae (Appendix I) which are very hardly to detect (a very small insects) without specific researches. The huge differences of knowledge of this family in Yemen (57 spp.) and Saudi Arabia (10 spp.) is due only to the lack of a specific research of Coniopterygidae in Saudi Arabia.

Despite a large number of studies existing on the lacewing fauna of the Arabian Peninsula (Meinander 1979, 1980; Hölzel 1980, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1995, 1998; Sziráki and van Harten 2006; Sziráki 2010), including the current study, there is still a paucity of knowledge about the lacewing fauna in the Arabian Peninsula. This issue is reflected by the rate of discovery of lacewing species in the Arabian Peninsula has not yet reached a plateau. The addition of lacewing species after more thorough sampling efforts is expected to provide more reliable biogeographical patterns on this group. Further studies on the lacewing fauna of Saudi Arabia should also focus on the biology and ecology of this group.

Acknowledgements

We thank Daniele Baiocchi, Gianluca Magnani, and Pierpaolo Rapuzzi for allowing us to study specimens collected during their research. Thanks to Davide Badano (Università degli studi di Genova, Genoa, Italy) for providing suggestions, identifications, and information. We thank the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University, Saudi Arabia, for funding this research (RGP–1438–082).

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Appendix I

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List of known lacewings from Saudi Arabia.

Family	Species	This study
Ascalaphidae	Ascalaphus dicax Walker, 1853
Ascalaphidae	Ascalaphus festivus (Rambur, 1842)	+
Ascalaphidae	Aspoeckiella gallagheri Hölzel, 2004	+
Ascalaphidae	Bubopsis hamata (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834)	+
Ascalaphidae	Stylascalaphus krueperi (van der Weele, 1909)	+
Ascalaphidae	Tmesibasis larseni Hölzel, 1983	+
Berothidae	Nodalla eatoni (McLachlan, 1898)	+
Berothidae	Nodalla saharica (Esben-Petersen, 1920)	+
Berothidae	Podallea arabica Aspöck & Aspöck, 1981	+
Chrysopidae	Brinckochrysa alfierii (Navás, 1926)	+
Chrysopidae	Brinckochrysa chlorosoma (Navás, 1914)	+
Chrysopidae	Brinckochrysa plagata (Navás, 1929)
Chrysopidae	Chrysemosa andresi (Navás, 1915)	+
Chrysopidae	Chrysemosa mosconica (Navás, 1931)
Chrysopidae	Chrysemosa sodomensis (Hölzel, 1982)
Chrysopidae	Chrysopa sogdianica McLachlan in Fedchenko, 1875
Chrysopidae	Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens, 1836)	+
Chrysopidae	Chrysoperla mutata (McLachlan, 1898)
Chrysopidae	Italochrysa asirensis Hölzel, 1980
Chrysopidae	Italochrysa bimaculata Hölzel, 1980	+
Chrysopidae	Italochrysa pittawayi Hölzel, 1988
Chrysopidae	Italochrysa stigmatica (Rambur, 1838)
Chrysopidae	Pseudomallada amseli (Hölzel, 1980)	+
Chrysopidae	Pseudomallada arabicus (Hölzel, 1995)	+
Chrysopidae	Pseudomallada healdi (Navás, 1926)
Chrysopidae	Pseudomallada nicolainus (Navás, 1929)
Chrysopidae	Pseudomallada phlebius (Navas, 1927)
Chrysopidae	Pseudomallada spadix (Hölzel, 1988)	+
Chrysopidae	Pseudomallada venosus (Rambur, 1838)	+
Chrysopidae	Suarius alisteri (Navás, 1914)
Chrysopidae	Suarius caviceps (McLachlan, 1898)
Chrysopidae	Suarius gobiensis (Tjeder, 1936)
Chrysopidae	Suarius mongolica (Tjeder, 1936)
Chrysopidae	Suarius walsinghami walsinghami Navás, 1914
Coniopterygidae	Aleuropteryx arabica Meinander, 1977
Coniopterygidae	Aleuropteryx vartianorum Aspöck & Aspöck, 1967
Coniopterygidae	Coniopteryx deserta Meinander, 1979
Coniopterygidae	Coniopteryx mucrogonarcuata Meinander, 1979
Coniopterygidae	Coniopteryx ressli Rausch & Aspöck, 1978
Coniopterygidae	Coniopteryx venustula Rausch & Aspöck, 1978
Coniopterygidae	Coniopteryx wittmeri Meinander, 1979
Coniopterygidae	Cryptoscenea serrata (Meinander, 1979)
Coniopterygidae	Hemisemidalis pallida (Withycombe, 1924)
Coniopterygidae	Nimboa macroptera Aspöck & Aspöck, 1965
Hemerobiidae	Hemerobius reconditus Navás, 1914
Hemerobiidae	Micromus sjostedti van der Weele, 1910	+
Hemerobiidae	Sympherobius fallax Navás, 1908
Hemerobiidae	Wesmaelius navasi (Andréu, 1911)
Hemerobiidae	Wesmaelius saudiarabicus Hölzel, 1988
Mantispidae	Afromantispa nana (Erichson, 1839)	+
Mantispidae	Mantispa aphavexelte Aspöck & Aspöck, 1994	+
Mantispidae	Mantispa scabricollis McLachlan in Fedchenko, 1875
Myrmeleontidae	Acanthaclisis mesopotamica Hölzel, 1972
Myrmeleontidae	Bankisus maculosus Hölzel, 1983	+
Myrmeleontidae	Centroclisis cervina (Gerstaecker, 1863)
Myrmeleontidae	Centroclisis distincta (Rambur, 1842)
Myrmeleontidae	Centroclisis speciosa Hölzel, 1983	+
Myrmeleontidae	Creoleon cervinus Hölzel, 1983
Myrmeleontidae	Creoleon cinerascens (Navás, 1912)
Myrmeleontidae	Creoleon desertus Hölzel, 1982
Myrmeleontidae	Creoleon elegans Hölzel, 1968	+
Myrmeleontidae	Creoleon griseus (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834)	+
Myrmeleontidae	Creoleon neftanus Navás, 1930
Myrmeleontidae	Creoleon neurasthenicus (Navás, 1913)
Myrmeleontidae	Creoleon parvulus Hölzel, 1983
Myrmeleontidae	Creoleon persicus Hölzel, 1972	+
Myrmeleontidae	Creoleon pullus Hölzel, 1983
Myrmeleontidae	Creoleon ultimus Hölzel, 1983	+
Myrmeleontidae	Cueta amseli Hölzel, 1982	+
Myrmeleontidae	Cueta asirica Hölzel, 1982	+
Myrmeleontidae	Cueta clara Hölzel, 1981
Myrmeleontidae	Cueta divisa (Navás, 1912)
Myrmeleontidae	Cueta genialis Hölzel, 1988
Myrmeleontidae	Cueta lineosa (Rambur, 1842)	+
Myrmeleontidae	Cueta modesta Hölzel, 1972
Myrmeleontidae	Cueta pallens (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834)	+
Myrmeleontidae	Cueta paula Hölzel, 1983
Myrmeleontidae	Cueta pusilla Hölzel, 1983
Myrmeleontidae	Cueta striata Kimmins, 1943
Myrmeleontidae	Cueta virgata (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834)
Myrmeleontidae	Distoleon asiricus Hölzel, 1983	+
Myrmeleontidae	Distoleon laticollis (Navás, 1913)	+
Myrmeleontidae	Fadrina formosa (Hölzel, 1981)	+
Myrmeleontidae	Ganguilus flavipennis (Navás, 1932)
Myrmeleontidae	Ganguilus oblitus (Navás, 1914)
Myrmeleontidae	Ganguilus pallescens Navás, 1912
Myrmeleontidae	Ganguilus pulchellus (Banks, 1911)
Myrmeleontidae	Gepella modesta Hölzel, 1968
Myrmeleontidae	Gepus cunctatus Hölzel, 1982
Myrmeleontidae	Gepus invisus Navás, 1912	+
Myrmeleontidae	Geyria arabica Hölzel, 1983
Myrmeleontidae	Geyria lepidula (Navás, 1912)	+
Myrmeleontidae	Geyria pallida Hölzel, 1983	+
Myrmeleontidae	Geyria saharica Esben-Petersen, 1920
Myrmeleontidae	Goniocercus klugi (Kolbe, 1898)
Myrmeleontidae	Goniocercus walkeri (McLachlan, 1894)	+
Myrmeleontidae	Iranoleon arabicus Hölzel, 1982	+
Myrmeleontidae	Iranoleon darius Hölzel, 1972
Myrmeleontidae	Isoleon arabicus Hölzel, 1972
Myrmeleontidae	Lopezus arabicus Hölzel, 1972
Myrmeleontidae	Lopezus fedtschenkoi (McLachlan in Fedchenko, 1875)	+
Myrmeleontidae	Macronemurus delicatulus Morton, 1926
Myrmeleontidae	Mesonemurus harterti Navás, 1919
Myrmeleontidae	Myrmecaelurus acerbus (Walker, 1853)
Myrmeleontidae	Myrmecaelurus laetus (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834)
Myrmeleontidae	Myrmecaelurus lepidus (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834)	+
Myrmeleontidae	Myrmecaelurus lobatus Navás, 1912
Myrmeleontidae	Myrmecaelurus luridus Hölzel, 1983
Myrmeleontidae	Myrmecaelurus obscurus Hölzel, 1983
Myrmeleontidae	Myrmecaelurus parvulus Hölzel, 1982
Myrmeleontidae	Myrmecaelurus peterseni Kimmins, 1943
Myrmeleontidae	Myrmecaelurus philbyi Kimmins, 1943
Myrmeleontidae	Myrmecaelurus pittawayi Hölzel, 1983
Myrmeleontidae	Myrmecaelurus saudiarabicus Hölzel, 1982
Myrmeleontidae	Myrmeleon alternans Brullé in Webb & Berthelot, 1839
Myrmeleontidae	Myrmeleon caliginosus Hölzel & Ohm, 1983	+
Myrmeleontidae	Myrmeleon fasciatus (Navás, 1912)	+
Myrmeleontidae	Myrmeleon hyalinus Olivier, 1811
Myrmeleontidae	Myrmeleon pellucidus Hölzel, 1988
Myrmeleontidae	Myrmeleon vittatus Olivier, 1811
Myrmeleontidae	Myrmeleon wismanni (Navás, 1936)
Myrmeleontidae	Naya palpalis (Klapálek, 1914)
Myrmeleontidae	Nemoleon secundus (Hölzel, 2002)	+
Myrmeleontidae	Neuroleon amseli Hölzel, 1983
Myrmeleontidae	Neuroleon asirensis Hölzel, 1983	+
Myrmeleontidae	Neuroleon delicatus Hölzel, 1983	+
Myrmeleontidae	Neuroleon erato Hölzel, 1972
Myrmeleontidae	Neuroleon gracilis (Navás, 1926)
Myrmeleontidae	Neuroleon leptaleus (Navás, 1912)	+
Myrmeleontidae	Neuroleon lugubris (Navás, 1926)	+
Myrmeleontidae	Neuroleon modestus (Navás, 1912)	+
Myrmeleontidae	Neuroleon nubilatus (Navás, 1912)
Myrmeleontidae	Neuroleon pardalice (Banks, 1911)	+
Myrmeleontidae	Neuroleon parvus Kimmins, 1943
Myrmeleontidae	Neuroleon taifensis Kimmins, 1943
Myrmeleontidae	Neuroleon tenellus (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834)	+
Myrmeleontidae	Neuroleon virgineus Hölzel, 1983	+
Myrmeleontidae	Noaleon limbatellus (Navás, 1913)
Myrmeleontidae	Nophis flava Hölzel, 1972
Myrmeleontidae	Nophis luteus Hölzel, 1972
Myrmeleontidae	Nophis teillardi Navás, 1912
Myrmeleontidae	Omoleon jeanneli Navás, 1936	+
Myrmeleontidae	Palpares angustus McLachlan, 1898
Myrmeleontidae	Palpares cephalotes (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834)
Myrmeleontidae	Palpares papilionoides (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834)
Myrmeleontidae	Palpares venustus Hölzel, 1988
Myrmeleontidae	Parapalpares dispar (Navás, 1912)
Myrmeleontidae	Phanoclisis longicollis (Rambur, 1842)
Myrmeleontidae	Pseudoformicaleo gracilis (Klug in Ehrenberg, 1834)	+
Myrmeleontidae	Quinemurus cinereus Kimmins, 1943
Myrmeleontidae	Solter buettikeri Hölzel, 1982	+
Myrmeleontidae	Solter hardei Hölzel, 1968
Myrmeleontidae	Solter pallidus Hölzel, 1982
Myrmeleontidae	Solter parvulus Hölzel, 1988
Myrmeleontidae	Solter propheticus Hölzel, 1980	+
Myrmeleontidae	Solter tenellus Hölzel, 1988
Myrmeleontidae	Solter vartianae Hölzel, 1967
Myrmeleontidae	Solter virgilii Navás, 1931
Myrmeleontidae	Solter wittmeri Hölzel, 1982
Myrmeleontidae	Stenares irroratus Navás, 1912	+
Myrmeleontidae	Subgulina lineata (Navás, 1913)
Myrmeleontidae	Syngenes arabicus Kimmins, 1943
Myrmeleontidae	Tomatarella markli Kimmins, 1952
Nemopteridae	Afghanocroce vartianorum Hölzel, 1968
Nemopteridae	Croce aristata (Klug, 1838)	+
Nemopteridae	Croce schmidti (Navas, 1927)
Nemopteridae	Dielocroce baudii (Griffini, 1895)
Nemopteridae	Dielocroce berlandi (Navás, 1936)	+
Nemopteridae	Dielocroce chobauti (McLachlan, 1898)	+
Nemopteridae	Dielocroce elegans (Alexandrov-Martynov, 1930)	+
Nemopteridae	Dielocroce necrosia (Navás, 1913)
Nemopteridae	Halter halteratus (Forskål, 1775)	+
Nemopteridae	Halter nutans Navás, 1910
Nemopteridae	Necrophylus arenarius Roux, 1833
Sisyridae	Sisyra nigra (Retzius, 1783)
Sisyridae	Sisyra nilotica Tjeder, 1957