The Mediterranean species of the genus Ameles Burmeister,1838(Insecta,Mantodea:Amelinae), with a biogeographic and phylogenetic evaluation

The Mediterranean species of the genus Ameles Burmeister are revised. Ameles paradecolor sp. n., from the Iberian Peninsula, and Ameles insularis sp. n., from the island of Mallorca, are described. A. africana Bolívar and A. modesta Bolívar are new synonyms of Ameles spallanzania Rossi; A. cypria Uvarov is a new synonym of A. heldreichi Brunner. Neotypes are designed for the following species: A. spallanzania (Rossi) and A. aegyptiaca Werner. In total 13 Mediterranean species are recognized. Each species is presented with a diagnosis, full description, distribution data and a comprehensive bibliography. A key to both males and females is provided. A cladistic analysis, using twenty-one morphological characters, revealed the mo- nophyly of the genus, where two major clades are identified: the “spallanzania” and “picteti” species groups. Finally, bio- geographic remarks based on our phylogenetic hypothesis are also provided.