Iris oratoria (Linnaeus, 1758)

Abu-Dannoun, Omar & Katbeh-Bader, Ahmad, 2007, Mantodea of Jordan, Zootaxa 1617, pp. 43-56 : 47-48

Iris oratoria (Linnaeus, 1758)

Distribution: Algeria, Crete, Croatia, Greece, Cypres, Egypt, France, India, Iran, Italy, Java, Jordan, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Spain, Syria, Tchad, Tunisia and Turkey.

Material examined: (62) specimens: Ajlune 9.VIII.03 (2M, 1N), 19.VIII.03 (1N); Al Al-Bayt University 29.VI.04 (1N); Al Bassah 5.VII.05 (2N); Al Faysaliyah 19.VII.05 (1N); Al Jubayhah 14.III.97 (1M), 20.III.94 (1F), 22.VII.93 (1F), 1.X.97 (1F), 15.X.85 (1F), 19.X.92 (1 F), 22.X.95 (1F), 15.XI.87 (1F), 20, XI.96 (1F); Al Mujeb Reserve (Faqu'a) 23.VIII.05 (2N); Amman 17.IX.99 (1M) ( JPUC); Al Muwaqqar 7.X.? (1F); Al Yadudah 2.X.93 (1F); Amman 2.X.97 (1F), 15.X.86 (1F), 25.X.87 (1F), 7.XI.98 (1F) (MUC); Ar Rummanah Camp 4.IX.05 (1N); Ar Rusayfah 3.X.85 (1F); Ash Shawbak 15.VII.03 (1N); Assarow as Salt 27.VI.05 (2N), 27.VII.04 (1N), 6.VIII.05 (3N), 9.VIII.03 (1N), 12.VIII.04 (1F), 22.VIII.03 (1F), 27.VIII.03 (1 M), 30.VIII.03 (1M), 17.VIII.04 (1N), 2.IX.03 (1M), 11.IX.03 (1F), 15.IX.03 (1F), 5.X.03 (3F); As Simakiyah 11.VIII.03 (1N), 6.X.? (1M) (MUC); Ayn Musa 19.VII.05 (3N); Az Zarqa’ 12.X.85 (1F); Dana 11.VIII.03 (1F); Dayr Alla 10.IV.85 (1F); Ghawr Kabid 24.IX.86 (1F), 7.X.86 (1F), 7.XI.85 (1F); Iraq Al Amir 5.VII.05 (1N); Irbid 26.IX.03 (1M); Jarash 19.VIII.03 (1N), 16.IX.03 (1M), 12.X.? (1M); Kufr Jayiz 27.VII.04 (1N); Kufrinjah 25.VIII.03 (2F, 2M); Marka 19.XI.97 (1F) (YUC); Najel 15.VII.03 (4N), 16.VII.04 (1N); Na’ur 2.XI.86 (1F); Sufe 15.VIII.05 (1N); University of Jordan 6.XI. 0 5 (1F); Yajuz 28.XI.93 (1M), 20.XII.93 (1F); Yarqa 11.VIII.04 (1N).

Remarks: Iris oratoria has been described originally from "Africa" which most probably means Algeria ( UVAROV, 1931). It occurs in Palearctic, Ethiopian, Oriental and Nearctic zones. Its common name is the Mediterranean praying mantid. It is widely distributed in most regions of Jordan. I. oratoria was introduced to southern California in the 1930s ( MAXWELL & EITAN, 1998). Advertisement or warning coloration is well exemplified in the brilliantly colored hind wings of Iris oratoria . Significantly, the tegmina retain the drab coloration of rest of the body for cryptic purposes. Exposure of the striking eye spots of the wings occurs during a dramatic threat display where it forms part of a suite of behaviors including audible rustling of the wings and extension of the prehensile forelegs (Brackensbury, 1999). The adult sex ratio of this species becomes increasingly female-biased as the season progresses (Maxwell, 1998).

It was observed that the adults of this species are attracted to artificial lights in August. Males are good fliers. It has only one generation a year. Immatures appear in March and adults appear in late August to December. They overwinter as adults. I. oratoria was observed on several bushes or dry grasses such as Sarcopoterium spinosum , Ononis natrix, Scropholaria xanthoglossa, and Dittrichia viscose .