Contribution to knowledge of the Trichoptera of northwestern Algeria: New species records for the Algerian fauna and taxonomic remarks for the Maghreb fauna.

The caddisfly fauna of Algeria is far from complete. In this study, we present data from Trichoptera sampling in northwestern Algeria (Tafna and Ghazouana River basins) during 20142019, enhancing knowledge of this group in the country. We were able to identify 30 species and 17 genera in the study area. Among the listed taxa, five species (Hydroptila fortunata, Ecnomus deceptor, Tinodes waeneri, Limnephilus lunatus, Setodes argentipunctellus,) are new records for Algeria. An updated species checklist of Algerian Trichoptera includes 63 species. We also provide an update of the Maghreb checklist with comments on species distributions. The Maghrebian caddisfly checklist, which includes 44 Maghrebian endemic species, is still very poor in relation to that of neighboring Mediterranean geographical areas and countries, such as the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal), France, or Italy.

Checklist and key for identification of larvae of Hydropsyche species (Hydropsychidae, Trichoptera) of the Maghreb.

Twelve species of the genus Hydropsyche (Trichoptera) are reported from the Maghreb; six in Tunisia, eight in Morocco, and eleven in Algeria. These three North African countries are inhabited by common species, except that H. siltalai has been reported only from Algeria and H. pandiel only from Morocco. A list of Hydropsyche species known from the Maghreb is presented and a key for identification of described larvae of Maghreb Hydropsyche species is provided.

Larval Taxonomy and Distribution of Genus Hydropsyche (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) in Northwestern Algeria.

The main purpose of our paper is to document genus Hydropsyche (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) in northwestern Algeria and to provide the larval descriptions of the species set. Larvae, pupae, and imagines were collected from 14 sampling sites over a five-year period (2014-2019). Eight Hydropsyche species have been identified, with Hydropsyche siltalai being a new record for Algeria and North Africa, and Hydropsyche pellucidula a new record for Algeria. A comparison of our checklist with those of the Moroccan Rif and Europe is provided, as well as the geographical distribution of each species. This Algerian Hydropsyche species revision provides precise and reliable taxonomic characters for distinguishing larvae of the species, and a taxonomic key is proposed for their identification. In addition, information regarding their distribution is included.