New data on fauna of caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera) from northeastern Morocco with notes on chorology

Abstract In 2014–2019, we carried out an examination of Trichoptera of the Moulouya River basin in the Oriental, Fèz-Meknès and Drâa-Tafilalet regions of Morocco. Caddisflies of the territories of the High Plateau, the oriental Sahara and the eastern parts of the Rif, Middle Atlas and the High Atlas have been studied for the first time. We collected and identified 41 species. Rhyacophila sp. cf. intermedia/rougemonti McLachlan, 1868/McLachlan, 1880 (Rhyacophilidae); Hydropsyche sp. cf. exocellata Duföur, 1841 (Hydropsychidae) and Mesophylax aspersus hoggarensis Malicky, 1998 (Limnephlidae) are reported for the first time from Morocco. 21 species are recorded for the first time from Oriental Region and 13 species from Drâa-Tafilalet Region. For previously recorded species, we present additional distributional data. Additionally, we provide taxonomic notes on larvae of Athripsodes sp., Rhyacophila sp. and Mesophylax sp. cf. impunctatus McLachlan, 1884. We found a clear dominance of the Palearctic elements, typically Mediterranean, and a high rate of Ibero‐Maghrebian endemics in the Trichoptera fauna of northeastern Morocco. This chorotype pattern is similar to patterns observed for other aquatic insects in the same study area.