First contribution to the mayflies of Jordan

Abstract

Up to now, the mayfly fauna of Jordan has been completely unknown. Based on material recently collected at approximately 30 localities, a first contribution is provided. At least seven species of Ephemeroptera belonging to three different families occur in Jordan. With four species, the Baetidae is by far the most common and diversified family. Two new species, Nigrobaetis vuatazi Gattolliat & Sartori n.sp. and Baetis monnerati Gattolliat & Sartori lisp., are described in both larval and imaginal stages. The association of the ontogenetic stages was based on mitochondrial DNA (CO1 gene). Nigrobaetis vutazi is closely related to Nigrobaetis arabiensis Gattolliat & Sartori, 2008, recently described from United Arab Emirates, but differs notably from European species especially Nigrobaetis niger (Linnaeus, 1761) and Nigrobaetis digitatus (Bengtsson, 1912). Baths monnerati belongs to the buceratus species-group, which is known to be very common in the Levant but less frequent in Central Europe. The two other baetid species, Cloeon dipterum (Linnaeus, 1761) and Procloeon pennulatum (Eaton, 1870), are widely distributed in the Western Palaearctic and have already been reported from the Levant. Caenidae are represented by Caenis antoniae Malzacher, 1992 and Caenis parabrevipes Malzacher, 1992, and Leptophlebiidae by Choroterpes (Euthraulus) ortali Sartori, 1992. These three species were originally described from Israel and have not been reported since then. These reports increase their geographic range to the east and are of significant importance for conservation purposes as their former distribution was extremely restricted.