Hydropsychidae, J Curtis, 1835

Dambri, Besma M., Karaouzas, Ioannis, Samraoui, Boudjéma & Samraoui, Farrah, 2020, Contribution to the knowledge of the caddisfly fauna of Algeria: An updated checklist of Algerian Trichoptera with new records from the Aures region, Zootaxa 4786 (2), pp. 221-232 : 225

Family Hydropsychidae

Cheumatopsyche sp., first record for the genus in the Aures region.

O. Chabaa: 08.ii.2019, 1 larva.

Previously known from only the Chelif River, northwestern Algeria ( Arab et al. 2004). The genus also is known from Morocco and Tunisia. The first citation of this genus in North Africa was by Lestage (1925); he reported larvae from Oued Kerma, near Algiers, under the name Hydropsyche lepida . This same name is used by Gauthier (1928) who reported larvae from numerous Algerian rivers. Hydropsychodes atlantis Navás1930 was described based on a female from Tinmel (Western High Atlas ). Collections made in Morocco by Dakki (1982) included only one species, different from Cheumatopsyche lepida , and assigned to Cheumatopsyche atlantis ( Navás 1930) . Malicky (2005) considered this species to be a synonym of Cheumatopsyche lepida . However, a study of larvae collected by Bonada et al. (2008) indicated some differences with C. lepida , but more specimens are needed to confirm that C. atlantis is a valid species. Thus, the identification of the species remains uncertain, and collections of adults are necessary to resolve this taxonomic question.

Hydropsyche sp.

O. Chabaa: 12.vi.2019, 1 larva; 03.iv.2019, 1 larva .

The larvae of several species of this genus have been reported in Algeria and North Africa; many of them have not yet been described or are poorly known. Records presented here should be confirmed in combination with mature pupae and/or adults.

Hydropsyche cf. contubernalis McLachlan 1865

Ghoufi: 30.iii.2018, 1 larva. Mchouneche: 11.v.2018, 6 larvae.

Mature pupae and adults are needed to confirm the presence of this species at the study sites.

Hydropsyche modesta Navás 1925 , first record for Algeria and the Maghreb region.

Mchouneche: 11.v.2018, 3 larvae. Bouailef: 05.iv.2018, 4 larvae; 07.vii.2018, 1 larva ; 18.iii.2019, 14 larvae; 26.vi.209, 17 larvae, 2♀♀ pupae; 17.vii.2019, 22 larvae; 08.viii.2019, 6 larvae .

In consideration of the distinctive morphological features associating this larva with H. modesta , it is surprising that this species has not been found elsewhere in northern Africa; thus, adult material is needed to validate the presence of this species in this area.