Taxonomy and distribution of some orthopteran species (Orthoptera: Gryllidae, Trigonidiidae, Acrididae) from northwestern Morocco

Abstract

Orthopterans have emerged as a crucial group of invertebrates for environmental monitoring and assessment. According to available literature the study of Moroccan orthopteran species remains limited in comparison to other countries. In recent years, the field of orthopteran classification has witnessed significant progress thanks to groundbreaking research in taxonomy and phylogeny that have shed new light on relationships and evolutionary history. In Morocco, there are many types of Orthoptera, including grasshoppers, crickets, and locusts, and different regions of the country have not been equally well sampled and studied. Notably the northwestern, particularly the Sidi Kacem region, are little studied. Here we present a taxonomic update of the most abundant orthopterans in Morocco based on field visits between spring and summer 2019. Five species were identified: Dociostaurus maroccanus, Aiolopus strepens, Gryllus bimaculatus, Gryllus campestris, and Nemobius sylvestris. We aim to use this publication as a baseline for future work on Orthopterans from northwestern Morocco.