Contribution to the knowledge of Sphaeroceridae (Insecta: Diptera) associated with animal breeding farms in Morocco

Contribution to the knowledge of Sphaeroceridae (Insecta: Diptera) associated with animal breeding farms in Morocco

Khadija Bouzrarf

LESCB URL-CNRST N°18, FS, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tétouan, Morocco.

https://orcid.org/0009-0006-0104-9916

Abderrahmane Qalmoun

LESCB URL-CNRST N°18, FS, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tétouan, Morocco.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2510-9980

Paul L.Th. Beuk^†

Natuurhistorisch Museum Maastricht, De Bosquetplein 6-7, 6211KJ Maastricht, The Netherlands.

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6383-3905

Rachida Akhrif

LESCB URL-CNRST N°18, FS, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tétouan, Morocco.

https://orcid.org/0009-0008-3315-5865

Boutaïna Belqat

LESCB URL-CNRST N°18, FS, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tétouan, Morocco.

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2857-7699

ABSTRACT. Seventeen species and two genera - Elachisoma Rondani, 1880 and Gonioneura Rondani, 1880- of Sphaeroceridae are recorded for the first time in Morocco of which 12 species are new to North Africa (Nudopella hem (Roháček & Marshall, 1986), E. bajzae Papp, 1983, E. kerteszi (Duda, 1924), E. pilosum (Duda, 1924), Gonioneura spinipennis (Haliday, 1836), Minilimosina (Svarciella) ismayi Roháček, 1983b, Opalimosina (Dentilimosina) denticulata (Duda, 1924), Spelobia talparum (Richards, 1927), Nudopella leucoptera (Haliday, 1836), Trachyopella (Trachyopella) lineafrons (Spuler, 1925), T. (T.) straminea Roháček & Marshall, 1986 and Ischiolepta scabricula (Haliday, 1836)). The aim of this study was to identify the lesser dung flies associated with five types of livestock (cattle, sheep, horses, goats, and poultry) among the 63 recognized species. These new findings have raised the total number of recognized Sphaeroceridae species in Morocco to 84.

Keywords: lesser dung flies, cattle, sheep, equine, goat, poultry, North Africa

Citation: Bouzrarf, K., Qalmoun, A., Beuk, P.L.T., Akhrif, R. & Belqat, B. (2025) Contribution to the knowledge of Sphaeroceridae (Insecta: Diptera) associated with animal breeding farms in Morocco. Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics, 11 (x), xx–xx.

Sphaeroceridae known as the lesser dung flies, are a relatively large family of acalyptrate Diptera with more than 1,800 described (and at least 5,000 estimated) species in the world (Papp & Roháček, 2021). Probably all species are saprophagous (more precisely, micro-saprophagous) because both larvae and adults are feeding on liquids with microorganisms and decomposed organic substances from decaying animal matter (excrement, carrion), vegetal matter (dead plants and their remnants including forest litter), and fungal (sporocarps of macrofungi) organic matter (Roháček, 1998; Papp & Roháček, 2021). The family is recognized for participating in the decomposition process of all kinds of organic material, being able to be poly-saprophagous or specialists. They found each other in some of their life phases feeding on resources such as fungi feces of various animal carcasses of invertebrates and carcasses of vertebrates. Despite their diverse biology, their medical and economic importance is not relevant, being potential mechanical transmitters of pathogens, they are pests in cheese industries, reducing the sanitary standards of manufacturing. There are also reports of intestinal myiasis and damage to the cultivation of mushrooms. Carrion-feeding species are useful post-mortem interval indicators in forensic entomology (Belshaw, 1989; Marshall et al., 2011; Manrique-Saide et al., 1997).

Despite numerous studies on Sphaeroceridae associated with the faeces of livestock, such as the work by Farkas and Papp (1989) who examined species composition and breeding sites of fly communities in poultry houses in Hungary, or Kühlhorn’s (1964) study on the composition of stable dipteran fauna, the relationship between Sphaeroceridae and animal droppings remains underexplored, particularly in Morocco. For instance, Papp (1985a, 1985b) found that the Sphaeroceridae family was the most abundant in sheep and cattle droppings. Furthermore, Papp (1976) reported that species like Ischiolepta oedopoda, Copromyza (Borborillus), and Coproica dentata develop in horse manure. Laurence (1954) also noted that small Sphaeroceridae (Borboridae), whose larvae feed on dung, may use the dung as food when they reach adulthood and may shelter in or under the droppings. Additional studies, including those of Hafez (1939), Hammer (1941), Howard (1901), Kühlhorn (1961), and Papp (1971) have contributed valuable insights into the relationship between Sphaeroceridae and livestock faeces. However, the knowledge regarding Sphaeroceridae and their association with livestock in Morocco remains incomplete. This study aims to expand our understanding of this family and its relationship with livestock in Morocco.

The data presented in this article were primarily collected between 2018 and 2021 during 191 field trips across various regions of Morocco, including the Rif, Middle Atlas, High Atlas, and Coastal Meseta (Fig. 1). Before this study, 67 species of Sphaeroceridae had been recorded in Morocco (Kettani et al., 2022). This article introduces new records for Morocco, including two newly documented genera and two potentially undescribed species which will be described in a separate article. With these new findings, the number of known Sphaeroceridae species in Morocco has increased to 84.                                                       

Figure 1. Map showing all collecting sites in Morocco using the GisArc software (GIS, ver. 9.3).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The material examined consists of Diptera captured in traditional farms located in rural areas of Morocco. The specimens were collected by Bouzrarf and Qalmoun, members of the UAE.FST group affiliated with the Faculty of Sciences, Abdelmalek Essaâdi University (Tetouan, Morocco). Sampling was carried out using a sweep net in all livestock farms (Fig. 2). However, in the poultry farm, a malaise trap was used instead, due to the specific conditions of the site. The study was carried out in 80 farms of different types: 36 cattle farms, 21 sheep farms, 11 horse farms (including donkeys and asses), 8 goat farms and 4 chicken farms (Fig. 3A). A total of 8212 specimens belonging to the family Sphaeroceridae were collected, using sweep nets and malaise traps (Fig. 3B), examined, and preserved in 70% ethanol. Most specimens were captured inside breeding farms or in the nearby surroundings.

 

Figure 2. Sampling sites and habitat of the lesser dung flies in Morocco. A. An example of a traditional farm with Cattle: Chefchaouen, Bab Taza Village. B. An example of a contemporary sheep farm: Lmchawir Village, Eljadida. C. An illustration of a donkey shelter: Mansoura Village Chefchaouen.
D. An example of a goat shelter: Youssoufia.

Figure 3. Sampling areas and habitat of Sphaeroceridae in Morocco. A. sampling by sweep net near a chicken shelter: Oulad Abbou Village, Settat; B. Malaise trap installed outside near a chicken shed in Mansoura Village.

All specimens identified by the late Paul Beuk were stored by species in ethyl alcohol (70%) and identifications were performed using a Wild M3Z stereomicroscope at magnification from 10x to 120x with a LitraPro LP1200 led light (light temperature 5700K). Identified specimens were transferred to ethyl alcohol (70%) in 2 ml vials with locality and identification labels. Whenever necessary, genitalia were prepared using lactic acid following the method described by Beuk (2021), and the genitalia were stored in the vials with the specimens. Keys used to identify genera (and consequently some species because they are placed in monotypic genera) are those of Pitkin (1988), Roháček (1998) and Papp & Roháček (2021). Generic revisions to further identify Sphaerocerinae were those of Han & Kim (1990 – Ischiolepta Lioy, 1864), Kim & Han (1990 – Lotobia Lioy, 1864) and Kim (1968 – Sphaerocera Latreille, 1804) and to further identify Copromyzinae were those of Norrbom & Kim (1985a – Crumomyia Macquart, 1835; 1985b – Copromyza, Fallén, 1810), Norrbom & Marshall (1988 – Lotophila Lioy, 1864), and Papp (1988 – Norrbomia Papp, 1988). The monograph of Limosininae by Roháček (1982c, 1983a, 1983b, 1985) sufficed for the identification of most genera therein (Bifronsina Roháček, 1983, Eulimosina Roháček, 1983, Gonioneura Rondani, 1880, Limosina Macquart, 1835, Opalimosina Roháček, 1983, Pullimosina Roháček, 1983, Spelobia Spuler, 1924, Spinilimosina Roháček, 1983) but several genera were revised elsewhere or required additional literature. The relevant publications are those of Marshall (1986 – Pullimosina Roháček, 1983), Marshall & Roháček (1982 – Telomerina Roháček 1983), Marshall & Smith (1993 – Pseudocollinella Duda, 1924), Papp (1983 – Elachisoma Rondani, 1880; 1990 – Poecilosomella Duda, 1925; 2008 – Coproica Rondani, 1861), Roháček (1982a – Opacifrons Duda, 1918; 1982b – Leptocera Olivier, 1813; 1991 – Rachispoda Lioy, 1864; 2010 – Minilimosina (Svarciella) Roháček, 1983), and Roháček & Marshall (1986 – Trachyopella Duda, 1918; 1988 – Minilimosina (Svarciella)). All identified species from this study have been deposited at the Natuurhistorisch Museum Maastricht, De Bosquetplein, Maastricht, Netherlands, where they remain available for future verification and additional research. We provide an annotated list of the Sphaeroceridae identified in the present work, following the most recent version of Systema Dipterorum (Papp & Roháček, 2021) and their distribution according to the type of breeding.

The species are listed alphabetically within each subfamily, also sorted alphabetically. Species new for North Africa are marked with one asterisk (*), those new for Morocco are marked with two asterisks (**), and those representing the first records for the RIF, MIDDLE ATLAS, ANTI-ATLAS, HIGH ATLAS, or COASTAL MESETA are indicated with three asterisks (***) (Table 1). Moroccan, North African, and world distributions are given for the species inventoried, with notes on the biology of each species.

RESULTS

Taxonomic hierarchy

Family Sphaeroceridae Macquart, 1835

Subfamily Copromyzinae Stenhammar, 1855

Genus Copromyza Fallén, 1810

Copromyza equina Fallén, 1820

Material examined. Equine: RIF. 6♂♂, 4♀♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 9.III.2019.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. Oued Laou, Tétouan (Marshall et al., 2011).

General distribution. Afrotropical – Zaire; Australasian: Hawaii (USA); Nearctic – Canada; Neotropical – Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico; Oriental – China; Palaearctic – Algeria, Austria, Azores (Portugal), Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is. (Spain), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France (incl. Corsica), Faeroe Is. (Denmark) (Roháček et al., 2001).

Biology. In our study, this species is found associated with horse farms. It is a strictly coprophagous species, clearly preferring horse dung as a larval substrate, although it has also been reared from cow dung; more rarely, adults are attracted to the excrement of other mammals (cow, sheep, rabbit, dog, man), carrion and compost heaps (Pitkin, 1988).

Genus Crumomyia Macquart, 1835

Crumomyia glabrifrons (Meigen, 1830)

Material examined. Equine: RIF. 1♂, 2♀♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. Tariouma; MIDDLE ATLAS. Lac Aguelmane (Gatt et al., 2016).

General distribution. Palaearctic – Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Roumania, Russia (CET, SET), Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadjikistan, Türkiye, Ukraine, former Yugoslavia (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (Kettani et al., 2022).

Biology. In our work, the species was associated with equine farms. Found mainly in cold forests and above the timberline in the alpine zone, it was recorded from wet meadows, the entrance region of caves, decayed vegetation, on roe droppings (Troger & Roháček, 1980).

Genus Lotophila Lioy, 1864

Lotophila atra (Meigen, 1830)

Material examined. Cattle farm: COASTAL MESETA. 2♂♂, 1♀, Birjdid Village (33°22'06.7"N 8°00'52.8"W), 21.I.2019; 1♂, Sidi Aabed Village (32°44'16.6"N 9°00'59.0"W), 18.I.2019. RIF. 15♂♂, Moulay Bouchta Village (34°29'34.4"N 5°07'30.0"W), 21.I.2019; 1♂, Afrasso Village (35°51'37.4"N 5°23'16.0"W), 3.V.2019. Equine: RIF. 1♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. Sheep husbandry: COASTAL MESETA. 1♂, Nahda Village (32°14'22.9"N 8°33'12.2"W), 21.I.2020.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. Tanger (Marshall et al., 2011).

General distribution. Nearctic – Canada; Oriental – China (SIC), Pakistan; Palaearctic – Afghanistan, Algeria, Austria, Azores (Portugal), Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is. (Spain), China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France incl. (Corsica), Faeroe Is. (Denmark), Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece (incl. Crete), Hungary, Kazakhstan, Israel, Italy (incl. Sardinia), Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Madeira (Portugal), Malta, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, North Korea, Norway, Poland, Roumania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadjikistan, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, former Yugoslavia (Roháček et al., 2001).

Biology. In our work, we found it associated with horse, cattle, and sheep farms. The species is coprophagous as a larva, although it has only been successfully reared from cow dung. Adults occur on the excrement of various kinds (horse, donkey, sheep, pig, dog, man, red deer, roe deer, mouflon, rabbit, and cattle (Roháček, 1989).

Genus Norrbomia Papp, 1988

Norrbomia costalis (Zetterstedt, 1847)

Material examined. Cattle farm: RIF. 1♀, Aïn Zarka Village (35°31'12.7"N 5°20'42.8"W), 23.XII.2018. Sheep husbandry: COASTAL MESETA. 1♂, Aït Messaoud Village (31°43'36.0"N 8°05'14.3"W), 26.IV.2019; 2♀♀, Nahda Village (32°14'22.9"N 8°33'12.2"W), 21.I.2020; RIF. 1♂, Dghalyen Village (35°51'03.5"N 5°23'16.6"W), 1.V.2019. Equine: RIF. 1♂, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019; 2♀♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 15.V.2021. Goat: RIF. 1♀, Al Kachla Village (35°50'40.6"N 5°23'12.6"W), 4.V.2019.

General distribution. Palaearctic – Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Roumania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Ukraine, former Yugoslavia (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (New record).

Biology. We found this species in horse, cattle, sheep, and goat farms. It is generally rare but can be locally common, particularly on pastures near large horse farms (Roháček, 1998).

Norrbomia hispanica (Duda, 1923)

Material examined. Cattle farm: RIF. 3♀♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. Oued Laou, Tétouan (Marshall et al., 2011).

General distribution. Palaearctic – Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Israel, Kazakhstan, Roumania, Russia (SET), Spain (incl. Balearic Is.), Tadjikistan (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (Kettani et al., 2022).

Biology. Till now unknown, we found the species associated with cattle farms. The larva develops exclusively in horse droppings.

Norrbomia marginatis (Adams, 1905)

Material examined. Cattle farm: COASTAL MESETA. 1♂, 1♀, Sidi Aabed Village (32°44'16.6"N 9°00'59.0"W), 18.I.2019.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. Oued Laou, Tétouan (Marshall et al., 2011).

General distribution. Afrotropical – Angola, Cape Verde Is., Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Togo, Uganda, Zaire, Zimbabwe; Australasian/Oceanic – Australia, Belau, Fiji, Palau, Samoa, Vanuatu; Oriental – China (YUN), India, Malaysia (Sabah), Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand; Palaearctic – Canary Is. (Spain), China (HEB), Egypt, Greece, Israel, Japan, Malta (Roháček et al., 2001), Morocco (Marshall et al., 2011).

Biology. This species was found in cattle droppings.

Norrbomia sordida (Zetterstedt, 1847)

Material examined. Cattle farm: RIF. 1♀, Aïn Zarka Village (35°31'12.7"N 5°20'42.8"W), 23.XII.2018. Sheep husbandry: COASTAL MESETA. 1♀, Nahda Village (32°14'22.9"N 8°33'12.2"W), 21.I.2020. RIF. 1♂, Boujarah Village (35°34'38.7"N 5°19'02.5"W), 3.V.2019. Equine: RIF. 1♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. Goat farm: RIF. 1♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. Oued Guallet; Atlantic Plain. Larache, Loukkos (Gatt et al., 2016).

General distribution. Australasian/Oceanic – Hawaii (USA); Nearctic – Canada; Neotropical – Bermuda, Guatemala, Mexico; Oriental – India (Punjab); Palaearctic – Austria, Azores, Belgium, Canary Is. (Spain), China (XIN), Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Mongolia, Norway, Poland, Roumania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain (incl. Balearic Is.), Sweden, Switzerland, Tadjikistan, Türkiye (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (Kettani et al., 2022).

Biology. We found this species in cattle, sheep, equine, and goat farms in Morocco. It is a purely coprophagous species normally associated with horse dung, more rarely with cattle droppings on pastures (Papp, 1993).

Subfamily Limosininae Frey, 1921

Genus Bifronsina Roháček, 1983

Bifronsina bifrons (Stenhammar, 1855)

Material examined. Cattle farm: COASTAL MESETA. 4♀♀, Oulad Abbou Village (33°06'59.8"N 7°56'13.4"W), 3.III.2019. 7♀♀, Lmchawir Village (32°46'23.1"N 8°29'06.5"W), 17.I.2019. 50♂♂, 25♀♀, Safi City (32°23'53.0"N 9°10'39.0"W), 7.XI.2018. 2♀♀, Birjdid Village (33°22'06.7"N 8°00'52.8"W), 21.I.2019. 1♀, Tnin Chtouka Village (33°19'13.7"N 8°10'57.1"W), 8.IV.2018. 3♂♂, 5♀♀, Sidi Aabed Village (32°44'16.6"N 9°00'59.0"W), 18.I.2019. MIDDLE ATLAS. 8♂♂, 22♀♀, Elksiba Village (32°34'10.9"N 6°02'43.1"W), 7.XI.2018. RIF. 250♂♂, 161♀♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 29.V.2021. 4♂♂, 3♀♀, Sidi Mansour Village (35°14'16.7"N 3°57'04.5"W), 3.V.2019. 3♂, 1♀♀, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 19.IV.2019. 6♂♂, 10♀♀, Aïn Zarka Village (35°31'12.7"N 5°20'42.8"W), 23.XII.2018. 6♀♀, Dghalyen Village (35°51'03.5"N 5°23'16.6"W), 1.V.2019. 2♀♀, Beni Mazala Village (35°51'38.7"N 5°23'22.9"W), 28.IV.2019. 1♂, Moulay Yaakoub Village (34°11'16.2"N 4°58'51.0"W), 7.XI.2018. Equine: MIDDLE ATLAS. 1♂, 2♀♀, Bejaad Village (32°46'18.6"N 6°21'18.7"W), 12.XII.2018. RIF. 100♂♂, 116♀♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 17.V.2021. 2♂♂, 1♀, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 17.V.2021. 1♂, Dghalyen Village (35°51'03.5"N 5°23'16.6"W), 1.V.2019. Goat: RIF. 21♂♂, 12♀♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 29.V.2021. 7♀♀, Dghalyen Village (35°51'03.5"N 5°23'16.6"W), 1.V.2019. 2♂♂, 5♀♀, Beni Mazala Village (35°51'38.7"N 5°23'22.9"W), 28.IV.2019. 1♂, Al Kachla Village (35°50'40.6"N 5°23'12.6"W), 4.V.2019. Sheep husbandry: COASTAL MESETA. 3♀♀, Nahda Village (32°14'22.9"N 8°33'12.2"W), 21.I.2020. 13♂♂, 14♀♀, Oulad Abbou Village (33°06'59.8"N 7°56'13.4"W), 3.III.2019. 1♀, Sidi Maachou Village (33°08'52.8"N 8°07'06.7"W), 14.XII.2018. MIDDLE ATLAS. 1♂, 6♀♀, Elksiba Village (32°34'10.9"N 6°02'43.1"W), 7.XI.2018. RIF. 1♂, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. 783♂♂, 798♀♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 30.V.2021.

Distribution in Morocco. COASTAL MESETA. Birjdid, Lmchawir, Nahda, Oulad Abbou, Safi, Sidi Aabed, Sidi Maachou, Tnin Chtouka; MIDDLE ATLAS. Bejaad, Elksiba; RIF. Aîn Zarka, Al Kachla, Bab Taza, Beni Mazala, Ben Karrich, Dghalyen, Mansoura, Moulay Yaakoub, Sidi Mansour.

General distribution. Afrotropical – Madagascar, Seychelles, South Africa, Zaire; Australasian/Oceanic – Australia (ACT, VIC), Bonin Is. (Japan), French Polynesia (Tahiti), Guam (USA), Hawaii (USA), Kiribati (Tarawa Atoll), Marshall Is., Micronesia (Ponape, Yap Is.), North Mariana Is., New Zealand, Niue, Palau (USA); Nearctic – Canada; Neotropical – Argentia, Barbados, Bermuda, Brazil, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Galápagos Is. (Ecuador), Jamaica, Mexico (HID), St. Kitts, St. Vincent; Oriental – China (HAI), India (Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh), Philippines, Taiwan; Palaearctic – Afghanistan, Andorra, Austria, Azores (Portugal), Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is. (Spain), Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), Israel, Japan, Latvia, Madeira (Portugal), Malta, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Roumania, Russia (CET, FE, NET, WS), Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (incl. Balearic Is.), Sweden, Switzerland, Tadjikistan (Roháček et al., 2001).

Biology. In our study, this species was captured in association with cattle, equine, goats, and sheep. It is a common coprophagous species (Papp, 1978).

Genus Coproica Rondani, 1861

Coproica digitata (Duda, 1918)

Material examined. Cattle farm: COASTAL MESETA. 4♀♀, Birjdid Village (33°22’06.7"N 8°00’52.8"W), 21.I.2019. Equine: RIF. 1♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. 17♂♂, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 15.V.2021. 4♂♂, 9♀♀, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 19.IV.2019. Sheep husbandry: RIF. 1♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 29.V.2021.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. Oued Laou, Tétouan (Marshall et al., 2011).

General distribution. Oriental – Pakistan; Palaearctic – Afghanistan, Bulgaria, Canary Is. (Spain), Egypt, France, Hungary, Israel, Kirghizstan, Macedonia, Roumania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (incl. Balearic Is.), Tunisia, Turkestan, Uzbekistan, former Yugoslavia (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (Marshall et al., 2011).

Biology. We found this species associated with cattle, equine, and sheep. Carles-Tolrá (2001) found it associated with equine excrement.

Coproica ferruginata (Stenhammar, 1855)

Material examined. Cattle farm: COASTAL MESETA. 4♂♂, 3♀♀, Birjdid Village (33°22'06.7"N 8°00'52.8"W), 21.I.2019. 14♂♂, 15♀♀, Douar Touanssa (31°58'00.1"N 8°58'40.4"W), 7.XI.2019. 2♀♀, El Hawzia Sea (33°15'12.4"N 8°18'33.0"W), 21.I.2019. 34♂♂, 16♀♀, Safi City (32°23'53.0"N 9°10'39.0"W), 7.XI.2018. 19♂♂, 10♀♀, Sidi Aabed Village (32°44'16.6"N 9°00'59.0"W), 18.I.2019. 4♂♂, 5♀♀, Tnin Chtouka Village (33°19'13.7"N 8°10'57.1"W), 8.IV.2018. 32♂♂, 23♀♀, Mazagan Sea (33°16'24.3"N 8°22'13.9"W), 8.XI.2018. MIDDLE ATLAS. 10♂♂, 10♀♀, Elksiba Village (32°34'10.9"N 6°02'43.1"W), 7.XI.2018. RIF. 10♂♂, 12♀♀, Aïn Zarka Village (35°31'12.7"N 5°20'42.8"W), 23.XII.2018. 1♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. 22♂♂, 1♀♀, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 19.IV.2019. 41♂♂, 35♀♀, Dghalyen Village (35°51'03.5"N 5°23'16.6"W), 1.V.2019. 15♂♂, 31♀♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 29.V.2021. 6♂♂, 3♀♀, Tanger City (35°40'38.6"N 5°52'21.6"W), 17.I.2019. 5♂♂, 4♀♀, Sidi Mansour Village (35°14'16.7"N 3°57'04.5"W), 3.V.2019. Goat farm: RIF. 1♀, Al Kachla Village (35°50'40.6"N 5°23'12.6"W), 4.V.2019. 16♂♂, 7♀♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. 16♂♂, 8♀♀, Beni Mazala Village (35°51'38.7"N 5°23'22.9"W), 28.IV.2019. 5♂♂, Dghalyen Village (35°51'03.5"N 5°23'16.6"W), 1.V.2019. 10♂♂, 12♀♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 29.V.2021. Equine: COASTAL MESETA. 42♂, 15♀♀, El Ghorba Village (31°57'29"N 6°32'06"W), 9.XII.2018. RIF. 1♂, 3♀♀, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 17.V.2021. 3♂♂, 1♀, Dghalyen Village (35°51'03.5"N 5°23'16.6"W), 1.V.2019. 36♂♂, 35♀♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 17.V.2021. Sheep husbandry: COASTAL MESETA. 10♂♂, 4♀♀, Nahda Village (32°14'22.9"N 8°33'12.2"W), 21.I.2020. 231♂♂, 154♀♀, Oulad Abbou Village (33°06'59.8"N 7°56'13.4"W), 3.III.2019. MIDDLE ATLAS. 2♂♂, 2♀♀, Elksiba Village (32°34'10.9"N 6°02'43.1"W), 7.XI.2018. RIF. 2♂, 4♀♀, Afrasso Village (35°51'37.4"N 5°23'16.0"W), 3.V.2019. 2♂♂, 1♀, Beni Mazala Village (35°51'38.7"N 5°23'22.9"W), 28.IV.2019. 3♂, Boujarah Village (35°34'38.7"N 5°19'02.5"W), 3.V.2019. 2♂♂, Dghalyen Village (35°51'03.5"N 5°23'16.6"W), 1.V.2019. 367♂♂, 291♀♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 15.V.2021. Poultry: RIF. 2♂♂, Had Elgharbia Village (35°31'00.1"N 5°56'00.7"W), 3.V.2019, Malaise trap, coll. Bouzrarf, UAE-FST.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. Martil, Tétouan (Marshall et al., 2011).

General distribution. Afrotropical – Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Zaire; Australasian/ Oceanic – Australia (ACT, NSW, NT, QLD), Fiji, Guam (USA), Hawaii (USA), New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Tonga; Nearctic – Canada; Neotropical – Argentina, Bahamas, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Honduras, Mexico (CHI, NAY), St. Kitts, Surinam; Oriental – China, India (Uttaranchal), Indonesia (Flores, Sumbawa), Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Taiwan; Palaearctic – Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Austria, Azores (Portugal), Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is. (Spain), China (BEI, TIB), Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France (incl. Corsica), Germany, Great Britain, Greece (incl. Crete), Hungary, Italy, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Madeira (Portugal), Malta, Mongolia, Netherlands, North Korea, Norway, Poland, Roumania, Russia (CET, NET), Slovakia, Spain (incl. Balearic Is.), Sweden, Switzerland, Tadjikistan, Tunisia, former Yugoslavia (Serbia) (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (Marshall et al., 2011).

Biology. We found it associated with cattle, sheep, equine, poultry, and goats. It is a synanthropic species particularly common in decaying matter and excrement (Schiegg & Munari, 1999).

Coproica hirticula Collin, 1956

Material examined. Cattle farm: COASTAL MESETA. 1♀, Aït Messaoud Village (31°43'36.0"N 8°05'14.3"W), 26.IV.2019. 10♂♂, 3♀♀, Birjdid Village (33°22'06.7"N 8°00'52.8"W), 21.I.2019. 2♂♂, 4♀♀, Safi City (32°23'53.0"N 9°10'39.0"W), 7.XI.2018. 10♂♂, 5♀♀, Lmchawir Village (32°46'23.1"N 8°29'06.5"W), 17.I.2019. 1♂, 1♀, Mazagan Sea (33°16'24.3"N 8°22'13.9"W), 8.XI.2018. MIDDLE ATLAS. 2♂♂, 3♀♀, Elksiba Village (32°34'10.9"N 6°02'43.1"W), 7.XI.2018. RIF. 2♂♂, 4♀♀, Aïn Zarka Village (35°31'12.7"N 5°20'42.8"W), 23.XII.2018. 1♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. 1♀, Boujarah Village (35°34'38.7"N 5°19'02.5"W), 6.V.2019. 24♂, 17♀♀, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 19.IV.2019. 1♂, 1♀, Moulay Yaakoub Village (34°11'16.2"N 4°58'51.0"W), 7.XI.2018. 1♀, Gouarat Village (35°40'38.6"N 5°52'21.6"W), 3.VI.2019. Equine: COASTAL MESETA. 1♂, 2♀♀, El Ghorba Village (31°57'29"N 6°32'06"W), 9.XII.2018. RIF. 1♂, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 21.IV.2019. 1♂, Dghalyen Village (35°51'03.5"N 5°23'16.6"W), 1.V.2019. Goat farm: RIF. 64♂♂, 70♀♀, Al Kachla Village (35°50'40.6"N 5°23'12.6"W), 4.V.2019. 1♂, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 17.V.2021. 2♂♂, 5♀♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. Sheep husbandry: COASTAL MESETA. 22♂♂, 9♀♀, Nahda Village (32°14'22.9"N 8°33'12.2"W), 21.I.2020. 52♂♂, 40♀♀, Oulad Abbou Village (33°06'59.8"N 7°56'13.4"W), 3.III.2019. MIDDLE ATLAS. 2♀♀, Elksiba Village (32°34'10.9"N 6°02'43.1"W), 7.XI.2018. RIF. 1♂, Afrasso Village (35°51'37.4"N 5°23'16.0"W), 3.V.2019. 1♂, Dghalyen Village (35°51'03.5"N 5°23'16.6"W), 1.V.2019. 10♂♂, 18♀♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 15.V.2021.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. Zarka waterfall; ANTI ATLAS. Errachidia (Gatt et al., 2016).

General distribution. Australasian/Oceanic – Australia, New Zealand; Nearctic – Canada; Neotropical – Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico (HID); Oriental – China, Taiwan; Palaearctic – Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is. (Spain), Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Greece (Crete), Finland, Hungary, Italy, Israel, Japan, Malta, Norway, Poland, Roumania, Slovakia, Spain (incl. Balearic Is.), Sweden, Switzerland (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (Kettani et al., 2022).

Biology. We found it with cattle, sheep, equine, and goat farms. It is common, chiefly coprophagous but also on carrion and decayed vegetation, cow houses, pastures, grass compos, potato and rape fields (Floren, 1989).

Coproica hirtula (Rondani, 1880)

Material examined. Cattle farm: COASTAL MESETA. 1♂, Douar Touanssa (31°58'00.1"N 8°58'40.4"W), 7.XI.2019. 1♀, Safi City (32°23'53.0"N 9°10'39.0"W), 7.XI.2018. 1♂, Mazagan Sea (33°16'24.3"N 8°22'13.9"W), 8.XI.2018. 1♂, Lmchawir Village (32°46'23.1"N 8°29'06.5"W), 17.I.2019. MIDDLE ATLAS. 1♂, 6♀♀, Elksiba Village (32°34'10.9"N 6°02'43.1"W), 7.XI.2018. RIF. 5♂♂, 7♀♀, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 19.IV.2019. 4♂♂, 1♀, Boujarah Village (35°34'38.7"N 5°19'02.5"W), 6.V.2019. 2♂♂, 3♀♀, Sidi Mansour Village (35°14'16.7"N 3°57'04.5"W), 3.V.2019. Sheep husbandry: COASTAL MESETA. 2♂♂, 1♀, Nahda Village (32°14'22.9"N 8°33'12.2"W), 21.I.2020. RIF. 1♂, Afrasso Village (35°51'37.4"N 5°23'16.0"W), 3.V.2019. 1♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. 13♂♂, 11♀♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 29.V.2021. 1♂, Dghalyen Village (35°51'03.5"N 5°23'16.6"W), 1.V.2019. Goat farm: RIF. 1♀, Dghalyen Village (35°51'03.5"N 5°23'16.6"W), 1.V.2019. Equine: MIDDLE ATLAS. 3♂♂, 3♀♀, Tadla City (32°20'22"N 6°22'55"W), 9.XII.2018. RIF. 4♂♂, 11♀♀, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 17.V.2021. 1♂, 1♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 28.V.2021. Poultry: RIF. 1♀, Afrasso Village (35°51'37.4"N 5°23'16.0"W), 3.IV.2019, malaise trap, coll. Bouzrarf, UAE-FST.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. Zarka waterfall; ANTI ATLAS. Errachidia (Gatt et al., 2016).

General distribution. Afrotropical – Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Seychelles, Yemen, Zaire; Australasian/ Oceanic – Bonin Is. (Japan), Guam (USA), Hawaii (USA), Kiribati (Onotoa Atoll), Marshall Is., Micronesia (Kapingamarangi Atoll, Satawal I., Yap Is.), New Zealand, Northern Mariana Is. (Saipan), Papua New Guinea, Palau, Pitcairn Is.; Nearctic – Canada; Neotropical – Chile; Oriental – China (HKG), India, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Vietnam; Palaearctic – Afghanistan, Andorra, Austria, Azores (Portugal), Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is. (Spain), Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Greece (Thíra), Hungary, Italy, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Madeira (Portugal), Malta, Netherlands, North Korea, Norway, Poland, Roumania, Russia (CET), Slovakia, Spain (incl. Balearic Is.), Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, former Yugoslavia (Serbia); South Atlantic: Saint Helena (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (Kettani et al., 2022).

Biology. In our study, this species is found associated with equine, cattle, sheep, and goats, and connected with animal husbandry, cow houses, potato and rape fields, and grass compost (Floren, 1989).

Coproica lugubris (Haliday, 1835)

Material examined. Cattle farm: COASTAL MESETA. 1♂, 1♀, Lmchawir Village (32°46'23.1"N 8°29'06.5"W), 17.I.2019. RIF. 2♂♂, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. 1♂, Aïn Zarka Village (35°31'12.7"N 5°20'42.8"W), 23.XII.2018. 3♂♂, 1♀, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 19.IV.2019. Equine: RIF. 1♂, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 17.V.2021. Goat farm: RIF. 1♂, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. Sheep husbandry: MIDDLE ATLAS. 1♂, Elksiba Village (32°34'10.9"N 6°02'43.1"W), 7.XI.2018. RIF. 1♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 30.V.2021.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. M’Diq, Oued Laou, Smir, Tétouan (Marshall et al., 2011).

General distribution. Australasian/Oceanic – Papua New Guinea; Oriental – China (HKG), India (Uttar Pradesh), Pakistan, Taiwan; Palaearctic – Afghanistan, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France (incl. Corsica), Germany, Great Britain, Greece (Crete), Hungary, Israel, Italy (incl. Pantelleria I., Sardinia), Japan, Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Netherlands, North Korea, Norway, Poland, Roumania, Russia (CET, FE, NET, SET), Slovakia, Spain (incl. Balearic Is.), Sweden, Switzerland, Tadjikistan, Tunisia, former Yugoslavia (Serbia) (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (Marshall et al., 2011).

Biology. This species was collected from cattle, sheep, equine, and goat farms in this research. It is found in pastures, cow houses, grass compost, and potato fields according to Floren (1989).

Coproica pusio (Zetterstedt, 1847)

Material examined. Cattle farm: RIF. 1♂, 2♀♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. Goat farm: RIF. 1♂, 1♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. Oued Laou, Smir lagoon (Gatt et al., 2016).

General distribution. Oriental – Pakistan; Palaearctic – Afghanistan, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Japan, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Mongolia, Russia (NET, ES, SET), Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, former Yugoslavia (Serbia) (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (Kettani et al., 2022).

Biology. It was captured with cattle and goat farms in this study. According to Floren (1989), it is chiefly on cattle droppings, cow houses, dunghill, pastures, potato and rape fields, and grass compost.

Coproica rohaceki Carles-Tolrá, 1990

Material examined. Cattle farm: COASTAL MESETA. 22♂♂, 6♀♀, Sidi Mansour Village (35°14'16.7"N 3°57'04.5"W), 3.V.2019. MIDDLE ATLAS. 1♀, Elksiba Village (32°34'10.9"N 6°02'43.1"W), 7.XI.2018. RIF. 1♂, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. 144♂♂, 72♀♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 29.V.2021. 2♂♂, 3♀♀, Aïn Zarka Village (35°31'12.7"N 5°20'42.8"W), 23.XII.2018. 2♂♂, 1♀, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 19.IV.2019. 9♂♂, 5♀♀, Beni Mazala Village (35°51'38.7"N 5°23'22.9"W), 28.IV.2019. 3♂♂, 1♀, Boujarah Village (35°34'38.7"N 5°19'02.5"W), 6.V.2019. Goat farm: RIF. 1♂, 2♀♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. 10♂♂, 15♀♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 17.V.2021. 22♂♂, 7♀♀, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 21.IV.2019. 7♂♂, Dghalyen Village (35°51'03.5"N 5°23'16.6"W), 1.V.2019. 1♀, Al Kachla Village (35°50'40.6"N 5°23'12.6"W), 4.V.2019. 19♂♂, 10♀♀, Beni Mazala Village (35°51'38.7"N 5°23'22.9"W), 28.IV.2019. Equine: RIF. 31♂♂, 20♀♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 28.V.2021. Poultry: RIF. 1♀, Afrasso Village (35°51'37.4"N 5°23'16.0"W), 3.IV.2019, Malaise trap, coll. Bouzrarf, UAE-FST. Sheep husbandry: MIDDLE ATLAS. 11♂♂, 9♀♀, Khouribga (32°54'32.7"N 6°57'59.0"W), 13.VI.2021. RIF. 4♂♂, 2♀♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. 302♂♂, 229♀♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 23.V.2021. 1♂, 4♀♀, Dghalyen Village (35°51'03.5"N 5°23'16.6"W), 1.V.2019. 1♂, 1 ♀Afrasso Village (35°51'37.4"N 5°23'16.0"W), 3.V.2019.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. Oued Amsa, Oued Moulay Bouchta (Gatt et al., 2016).

General distribution. Palaearctic – Canary Is. (Spain), Italy, Japan, Malta, Norway, Spain (incl. Balearic Is.) (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (Kettani et al., 2022).

Biology. In our work, this species was found in cattle, sheep, poultry, equine, and goat farms. It is strongly psychrophilous, chiefly collected on decaying fungi and leaves and moss in damp meadows. It is also found in small mammals' burrows and caves' entrance regions (Schiegg & Munari, 1999).

Coproica rufifrons Hayashi, 1991

Material examined. Cattle farm: COASTAL MESETA. 1♂, 3♀♀, Douar Touanssa (31°58'00.1"N 8°58'40.4"W), 7.XI.2019. 2♂♂, 9♀♀, Safi City (32°23'53.0"N 9°10'39.0"W), 7.XI.2018. 1♀, Birjdid Village (33°22'06.7"N 8°00'52.8"W), 21.I.2019. 1♂, Sidi Aabed Village (32°44'16.6"N 9°00'59.0"W), 18.I.2019. MIDDLE ATLAS. 2♂♂, 3♀♀, Elksiba Village (32°34'10.9"N 6°02'43.1"W), 7.XI.2018. RIF. 1♂, 1♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 29.V.2021. 1♂, Aïn Zarka Village (35°31'12.7"N 5°20'42.8"W), 23.XII.2018. 1♀, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 19.IV.2019. 3♂♂, 3♀♀, Moulay Yaakoub Village (34°11'16.2"N 4°58'51.0"W), 7.XI.2018. Goat farm: RIF. 1♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 17.V.2021. Equine: RIF. 2♂♂, 2♀♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 28.V.2021. Sheep husbandry: COASTAL MESETA. 2♀♀, Oulad Abbou Village (33°06'59.8"N 7°56'13.4"W), 3.III.2019. MIDDLE ATLAS. 1♂, Elksiba Village (32°34'10.9"N 6°02'43.1"W), 7.XI.2018. RIF. 14♂♂, 11♀♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 23.V.2021. 2♂♂, Dghalyen Village (35°51'03.5"N 5°23'16.6"W), 1.V.2019.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. Issaguen (Gatt et al., 2016).

General distribution. Australasian/Oceanic – Papua New Guinea, Solomon Is.; Nearctic – USA (FL); Neotropical – Argentina, Bermuda, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Galápagos Is. (Ecuador), Grenada, Mexico, St. Kitts; Oriental – China (HKG), Pakistan, Taiwan; Palaearctic – Canary Is. (Spain), Japan (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (Kettani et al., 2022).

Biology. We found this species in cattle, sheep, equine, and goat farms. According to Falk et al. (2016), its biology is unknown, larvae probably develop in decaying vegetable matter, although they may invade grass and reed stems. Adults recorded from June to September.

Coproica vagans (Haliday, 1833)

Material examined. Cattle farm: COASTAL MESETA. 20♂♂, 17♀♀, Douar Touanssa (31°58'00.1"N 8°58'40.4"W), 7.XI.2019. 3♂♂, 2♀♀, Oulad Abbou Village (33°06'59.8"N 7°56'13.4"W), 3.III.2019. 77♂♂, 46♀♀, Lmchawir Village (32°46'23.1"N 8°29'06.5"W), 17.I.2019. 38♂♂, 27♀♀, Safi City (32°23'53.0"N 9°10'39.0"W), 7.XI.2018. 79♂♂, 48♀♀, Birjdid Village (33°22'06.7"N 8°00'52.8"W), 21.I.2019. 3♂♂, 3♀♀, Sidi Aabed Village (32°44'16.6"N 9°00'59.0"W), 18.I.2019. MIDDLE ATLAS. 86♂♂, 87♀♀, Elksiba Village (32°34'10.9"N 6°02'43.1"W), 7.XI.2018. RIF. 2♀♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. 64♂♂, 32♀♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 29.V.2021. 58♂, 17♀♀, Moulay Yaakoub Village (34°11'16.2"N 4°58'51.0"W), 7.XI.2018. 3♂♂, 5♀♀, Sidi Mansour Village (35°14'16.7"N 3°57'04.5"W), 3.V.2019. 6♂♂, 4♀♀, Aïn Zarka Village (35°31'12.7"N 5°20'42.8"W), 23.XII.2018. 3♂♂, 3♀♀, Dghalyen Village (35°51'03.5"N 5°23'16.6"W), 1.V.2019. 2♂♂, 7♀♀, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 19.IV.2019. 6♂♂, 1♀, Beni Mazala Village (35°51'38.7"N 5°23'22.9"W), 28.IV.2019. 10♂♂, 8♀, Touima Village (35°07'35.8"N 2°56'08.3"W), 18.I.2018. 11♂♂, 14♀♀, Boujarah Village (35°34'38.7"N 5°19'02.5"W), 6.V.2019. Equine: COASTAL MESETA. 3 ♂♂. 3♀♀, El Ghorba Village (31°57'29"N 6°32'06"W), 9.XII.2018. MIDDLE ATLAS. 29♂♂, 19♀♀, Bejaad Village (32°46'18.6"N 6°21'18.7"W), 12.XII.2018. RIF. 3♂♂, 7♀♀, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 17.V.2021. 15♂♂, 9♀♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 28.V.2021. Goat farm: RIF. 2♂♂, 1♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 17.V.2021. 4♂♂, 3♀♀, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 21.IV.2019. 2♂♂, 2♀♀, Dghalyen Village (35°51'03.5"N 5°23'16.6"W), 1.V.2019. 15♂♂, 3♀♀, Beni Mazala Village (35°51'38.7"N 5°23'22.9"W), 28.IV.2019. 32♂♂, 15♀♀, Al Kachla Village (35°50'40.6"N 5°23'12.6"W), 4.V.2019. Sheep husbandry: COASTAL MESETA. 127♂♂, 94♀♀, Nahda Village (32°14'22.9"N 8°33'12.2"W), 21.I.2020. 81♂♂, 50♀♀, Oulad Abbou Village (33°06'59.8"N 7°56'13.4"W), 3.III.2019. 3♂♂, 3♀♀, Sidi Maachou Village (33°08'52.8"N 8°07'06.7"W), 14.XII.2018. MIDDLE ATLAS. 1♂, 4♀♀, Elksiba Village (32°34'10.9"N 6°02'43.1"W), 7.XI.2018. RIF. 112♂♂, 76♀♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 23.V.2021.

Distribution in Morocco. ANTI ATLAS. Errachidia, Oued Ziz; Sahara. Merzouga (Gatt et al., 2016).

General distribution. Afrotropical – Ethiopia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zaire; Australasian/Oceanic – Australia (QLD), Guam (USA), Hawaii (USA); Nearctic – Canada; Neotropical – Argentina, Bermuda, Bolivia, Chile, Mexico (MEX); Oriental – Taiwan; Palaearctic – Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is. (Spain), Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France (incl. Corsica), Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece (incl. Crete, Thíra), Hungary, Iceland, Italy (incl. Sardinia), Ireland, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Macedonia, Madeira (Portugal), Malta, Mongolia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Roumania, Russia (CET, NET, SET), Slovakia, Spain (incl. Balearic Is.), Sweden, Switzerland, Tadjikistan, Tunisia, Türkiye, former Yugoslavia (Serbia); South Atlantic: Saint Helena(Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (Kettani et al., 2022).

Biology. It was found in cattle, sheep, equine, and goat farms. According to Floren (1989), it starts in excrement and decaying matter, cow houses, pastures, grass compost, potato, and rape fields.

Genus Elachisoma Rondani 1880

Genus first reported from Morocco.

Elachisoma aterrimum (Haliday, 1833)

Material examined. Cattle farm: COASTAL MESETA. 1♂, 3♀♀, Lmchawir Village (32°46'23.1"N 8°29'06.5"W), 17.I.2019. RIF. 6♀♀, Aïn Zarka Village (35°31'12.7"N 5°20'42.8"W), 23.XII.2018. 5♂♂, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 19.IV.2019. Sheep husbandry: COASTAL MESETA. 1♂, 2♀♀, Nahda Village (32°14'22.9"N 8°33'12.2"W), 21.I.2020. 8♂♂, 4♀♀, Oulad Abbou Village (33°06'59.8"N 7°56'13.4"W), 3.III.2019.RIF. 5♂♂, 3♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 23.V.2021.

Distribution in Morocco. COASTAL MESETA. Lmchawir, Nahda, Oulad Abbou; RIF. Aïn Zarka, Ben Karrich, Mansoura.

General distribution. Afrotropical – Zaire; Nearctic – Canada; Palaearctic – Afghanistan, Austria, Azores (Portugal), Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is. (Spain), Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Madeira (Portugal), Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Roumania, Russia (NET), Slovakia, Spain (incl. Balearic Is.), Sweden, Switzerland, Tadjikistan; South Atlantic: Saint Helena (Roháček et al., 2001); Morocco (New record).

Biology. This species was found in cattle and sheep farms in our work. It is coprophilous on the excrement of large herbivores, in cow stables, and on manure heaps. The species is also reported from decaying vegetation, pastures, grass compost, and stumps of oaks (Schiegg & Munari, 1999).

Elachisoma bajzae Papp, 1983

Material examined. Cattle farm: COASTAL MESETA. 1♀, Birjdid Village (33°22'06.7"N 8°00'52.8"W), 21.I.2019. Sheep husbandry: COASTAL MESETA. 2♂♂, 2♀♀, Nahda Village (32°14'22.9"N 8°33'12.2"W), 21.I.2020. 4♂♂, 1♀, Oulad Abbou Village (33°06'59.8"N 7°56'13.4"W), 3.III.2019. RIF. 6♂♂, 4♀♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 23.V.2021. 1♂, Dghalyen Village (35°51'03.5"N 5°23'16.6"W), 1.V.2019.

General distribution. Palaearctic – Canary Is. (Spain), Czech Republic, Greece (Crete), Hungary, Italy, Slovakia, Spain (incl. Balearic Is.), Switzerland (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (New record for North Africa).

Biology. We found this species on cattle and sheep farms. It is also associated with cattle droppings and poultry (Carles-Tolrá, 2001).

Elachisoma kerteszi (Duda, 1924)

Material examined. Cattle farm: COASTAL MESETA. 1♂, Douar Touanssa (31°58'00.1"N 8°58'40.4"W), 7.XI.2019. 1♂, Lmchawir Village (32°46'23.1"N 8°29'06.5"W), 17.I.2019. 1♂, Birjdid Village (33°22'06.7"N 8°00'52.8"W), 21.I.2019. RIF. 1♂, 3♀♀, Moulay Yaakoub Village (34°11'16.2"N 4°58'51.0"W), 7.XI.2018. 2♂♂, 1♀, Aïn Zarka Village (35°31'12.7"N 5°20'42.8"W), 23.XII.2018. Sheep husbandry: RIF. 1♂, 3♀♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 23.V.2021.

General distribution. Palaearctic – Canary Is. (Spain), Bulgaria, Hungary, Spain (incl. Balearic Is.) (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (New record for North Africa).

Biology. In our study, this species was found in cattle and sheep farms. According to Carles-Tolrá (2001), it is associated with equine.

Elachisoma pilosum (Duda, 1924)

Material examined. Cattle farm: COASTAL MESETA. 1♀, Lmchawir Village (32°46'23.1"N 8°29'06.5"W), 17.I.2019. 1♀, Safi City (32°23'53.0"N 9°10'39.0"W), 7.XI.2018. 1♂, Birjdid Village (33°22'06.7"N 8°00'52.8"W), 21.I.2019. RIF. 4♂♂, 3♀♀, Aïn Zarka Village (35°31'12.7"N 5°20'42.8"W), 23.XII.2018. Sheep husbandry: COASTAL MESETA. 2♂♂, Nahda Village (32°14'22.9"N 8°33'12.2"W), 21.I.2020. RIF. 2♀♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 23.V.2021.

General distribution. Oriental – Indonesia (Java), Malaysia; Palaearctic – Afghanistan, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Roumania, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (New record for North Africa).

Biology. This species was found in cattle and sheep farms. Often found together with E. aterrimum on cow houses, dunghill, potato and rape fields, deciduous forests, and hills (Floren, 1989).

Genus Gonioneura Rondani, 1880 [New generic record for Morocco]

Gonioneura spinipennis (Haliday, 1836)

Material examined. Cattle farm: COASTAL MESETA. 1♂, El Hawzia Sea (33°15'12.4"N 8°18'33.0"W), 21.I.2019.

General distribution. Nearctic – Canada; Oriental – Pakistan; Palaearctic – Afghanistan, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Kirghizstan, Latvia, Macedonia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Roumania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, former Yugoslavia (Serbia) (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (New record for North Africa).

Biology. In our work, the species was found only associated with cattle farms. In the literature, it is known to be a very common species, found on various decayed matter such as excrement, carrion, compost heaps, decayed vegetation, and fungi (Schiegg & Munari, 1999).

Genus Leptocera Olivier, 1813

Leptocera fontinalis (Fallén, 1826)

Material examined. Cattle farm: RIF. 2♂♂, 1♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. Equine: RIF. 1♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. M’Diq, Smir, Tétouan (Marshall et al., 2011).

General distribution. Afrotropical – all records doubtful; Nearctic – Canada; USA; Neotropical – all records doubtful; Palaearctic – Afghanistan, Andorra, Austria, Azores (Portugal), Belgium, Bulgaria, China (TIB), Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faeroe Is. (Denmark), Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece (Crete), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), Latvia, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Madeira (Portugal), Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Roumania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadjikistan, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, former Yugoslavia (Montenegro) (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (Marshall et al., 2011).

Biology. In this research, we found it with equine and cattle farms. According to the literature, it is common in wet shady places probably, a variety of places grass compost, maple in sap, cow houses, cowpats, potato fields (Floren, 1989).

Leptocera nigra Olivier, 1813

Material examined. Cattle farm: COASTAL MESETA. 4♂♂, 8♀♀, Birjdid Village (33°22'06.7"N 8°00'52.8"W), 21.I.2019. RIF. 2♂♂, 1♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. 1♂, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 14.V.2021. 1♂, 1♀, Moulay Bouchta Village (34°29'34.4"N 5°07'30.0"W), 21.I.2019. 2♂♂, 1♀, Aït Messaoud Village (31°43'36.0"N 8°05'14.3"W), 26.IV.2019. 2♂♂, 4♀♀, Afrasso Village (35°51'37.4"N 5°23'16.0"W), 3.V.2019. 4♂♂, 2♀♀, Beni Mazala Village (35°51'38.7"N 5°23'22.9"W), 28.IV.2019. Equine: RIF. 4♂♂, 2♀♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. 1♂, 1♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 9.III.2019. 2♀♀, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 19.IV.2019. 1♀, Dghalyen Village (35°51'03.5"N 5°23'16.6"W), 1.V.2019. Poultry: RIF. 2♂♂, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 26.IV.2019, malaise trap, coll. Bouzrarf, UAE-FST. Sheep husbandry: COASTAL MESETA. 1♂, 4♀♀, Nahda Village (32°14'22.9"N 8°33'12.2"W), 21.I.2020. 4♂♂, 1♀, Oulad Abbou Village (33°06'59.8"N 7°56'13.4"W), 3.III.2019. RIF. 1♂, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 26.V.2021. 1♂, 2♀♀, Dghalyen Village (35°51'03.5"N 5°23'16.6"W), 1.V.2019. 2♂♂, 1♀, Beni Mazala Village (35°51'38.7"N 5°23'22.9"W), 28.IV.2019. 1♀, Afrasso Village (35°51'37.4"N 5°23'16.0"W), 3.V.2019. 5♂♂, 1♀, Jnane Nich Forest (35°17'14.0"N 4°51'30.2"W), 8.I.2019.

Distribution in Morocco. MIDDLE ATLAS. Azrou (Roháček et al., 2001).

General distribution. Afrotropical – Botswana, Cameroon, Cape Verde Is., Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Ruanda-Burundi, South Africa, Zaire; Oriental – India (Uttaranchal), Nepal, Pakistan; Palaearctic – Algeria, Afghanistan, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azores (Portugal), Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is. (Spain), Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dalmatia, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Italy (incl. Pantelleria I., Sardinia, Sicily), Iran, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Madeira (Portugal), Malta, Morocco, Netherlands, North Korea, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Roumania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (incl. Balearic Is.), Sweden, Switzerland, Tadjikistan, Tunisia, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, former Yugoslavia (Montenegro, Serbia); South Atlantic: Saint Helena (Roháček et al., 2001).

Biology. We found it with cattle, sheep, poultry, and equine farms. It is coprophilous, usually occurring in association with the dung of sheep, cattle, and horses. It is also reported from dead leaves and from caves, where usually the entrance region is inhabited (Schiegg & Munari, 1999).

Genus Limosina Macquart, 1835

Limosina silvatica (Meigen, 1830)

Material examined. Cattle farm: RIF. 1♂, Aïn Zarka Village (35°31'12.7"N 5°20'42.8"W), 23.XII.2018.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. Issaguen, Talassemtane; MIDDLE ATLAS. Azrou, Khénifra (Gatt et al., 2016).

General distribution. Palaearctic – Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Roumania, Russia (CET, NET, SET), Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Ukraine, former Yugoslavia (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (Kettani et al., 2022).

Biology. In our study, this species was associated with cattle farms. It is developing in decayed vegetation in woodland areas, and by streams in deciduous forests (Floren, 1989).

Genus Minilimosina Roháček, 1983

Minilimosina (Svarciella) ismayi Roháček, 1983

Material examined. Cattle farm: RIF. 1♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. Goat farm: RIF. 1♂, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019.

General distribution. Palaearctic – Spain (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (New record for North Africa).

Biology. We found this species in cattle and goat droppings.

Minilimosina (Svarciella) vitripennis Zetterstedt, 1847

Material examined. Cattle farm: RIF. 1♀, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 19.IV.2019. Equine: RIF. 1♂, 2♀♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. Sheep husbandry: RIF. 1♀, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 19.IV.2019.

Distribution in Morocco. MIDDLE ATLAS. Azrou (Gatt et al., 2016).

General distribution. Nearctic – Canada; Palaearctic – Afghanistan, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is. (Spain), Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faeroe Is. (Denmark), Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Macedonia, Mongolia, Netherlands, North Korea, Norway, Poland, Roumania, Russia (FE, SET, WS), Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, former Yugoslavia (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (Kettani et al., 2022).

Biology. This species is found in cattle, sheep, and equine farms. The literature shows its presence in woods and woodland meadows, mountain birch forceps, damp deciduous forests, lake shores, moorland, garden, cow house, potato and rape fields (Floren, 1989).

Genus Nudopella Roháček & Marshall, 1986

Nudopella hem (Roháček & Marshall, 1986)

Material examined. Cattle farm: RIF. 1♀, Aïn Zarka Village (35°31'12.7"N 5°20'42.8"W), 23.XII.2018.

General distribution. Palaearctic – Azores (Portugal), Canary Is. (Spain), Czech Republic, Madeira (Portugal), Portugal (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (New record for North Africa).

Biology. The species was captured in cattle droppings.

Nudopella leucoptera (Haliday, 1836)

Material examined. Cattle farm: RIF. 1♀, Aïn Zarka Village (35°31'12.7"N 5°20'42.8"W), 23.XII.2018. Goat farm: RIF. 1♂, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. Sheep husbandry: RIF. 2♂♂, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 23.V.2021.

General distribution. Afrotropical – Ethiopia, Zaire; Australasian/Oceanic – Hawaii Is. (USA); Nearctic – Canada; Oriental – Sri Lanka; Palaearctic – Afghanistan, Andorra, Azores (Portugal), Belgium, Canary Is. (Spain), Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Roumania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland; South Atlantic: Saint Helena (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (New record for North Africa).

Biology. We collected it in cattle, sheep, and goat farms. Nudopella leucoptera is also found associated with bovine excrement, sheep, equine, and pigs (Carles-Tolrá, 2001).

Genus Opacifrons Duda, 1918

Opacifrons coxata (Stenhammar, 1855)

Material examined. Cattle farm: RIF. 1♂, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 14.V.2021.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. M’Diq, Oued Laou, Smir, Tétouan (Marshall et al., 2011).

General distribution. Afrotropical – Ethiopia, Madagascar, South Africa, Zaire (all need verification); Oriental – all records doubtful; Palaearctic – Afghanistan, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azores (Portugal), Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is. (Spain), Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France (incl. Corsica), Germany, Great Britain, Greece (incl. Crete), Hungary, Iran, Italy (incl. Sardinia), Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Madeira (Portugal), Malta, Mongolia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Roumania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadjikistan, Tunisia, former Yugoslavia (Montenegro, Serbia) (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (Marshall et al., 2011).

Biology. Opacifrons coxata was found associated with cattle farms. In the literature, it is common in boggy and marshy habitats, larvae develop in mud, wet meadows, marshy land, on river and lake shores, potato and rape fields, and cow houses (Floren, 1989).

Genus Opalimosina Roháček, 1983

Opalimosina (Dentilimosina) denticulata (Duda, 1924)

Material examined. Cattle farm: RIF. 1♀, Aïn Zarka Village (35°31'12.7"N 5°20'42.8"W), 23.XII.2018. Goat farm: RIF. 1♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019.

General distribution. Palaearctic – Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Roumania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland (Roháček et al., 2001); Morocco (New record for North Africa).

Biology. We captured the species in cattle and goat farms. According to Floren (1989), it is coprophagous, in Central Europe, often at higher altitudes, cow houses, gardens, and damp meadows.

Opalimosina (Opalimosina) mirabilis (Collin, 1902)

Material examined. Cattle farm: RIF. 11♂♂, 14♀♀, Aïn Zarka Village (35°31'12.7"N 5°20'42.8"W), 23.XII.2018.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. Oued Laou, Tétouan (Marshall et al., 2011).

General distribution. Australasian/Oceanic – Australia), New Zealand, Hawaii (USA). Nearctic – Canada; Neotropical – Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico (VRC); Oriental – Nepal, Pakistan; Palaearctic – Andorra, Austria, Azores (Portugal), Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is. (Spain), Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Netherlands, North Korea, Norway, Madeira (Portugal), Malta, Mongolia, Poland, Roumania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (Marshall et al., 2011).

Biology. It is found in cattle farms in this work, chiefly coprophagous. Floren (1989) found the species to be extremely common in cow stables (Schiegg & Munari, 1999).

Genus Poecilosomella Duda, 1925

Poecilosomella angulata (Thomson, 1869)

Material examined. Equine: MIDDLE ATLAS. 1♀, Bejaad Village (32°46'18.6"N 6°21'18.7"W), 12.XII.2018.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. Martil, Tétouan (Marshall et al., 2011).

General distribution. Afrotropical – Angola, Burundi, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Cape Verde Is., Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zaire; Australasian/ Oceanic – all published records doubtful; Nearctic – USA (FL, TX); Neotropical – Bermuda, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Santa Lucia, St. Vincent; Palaearctic – Canary Is. (Spain) (Roháček et al., 2001), Morocco (Marshall et al., 2011).

Biology. In this work, this species is found in equine droppings.

Genus Pseudocollinella Duda, 1924

Pseudocollinella jorlii (Carles-Tolrá, 1990)

Material examined. Cattle farm: RIF. 1♂, 1♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 14.V.2021.

Distribution in Morocco. MIDDLE ATLAS. Aguelmane (Marshall et al., 2011).

General distribution. Palaearctic – Algeria, Azores (Portugal), Canary Is. (Spain), Great Britain, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain (Roháček et al., 2001).

Biology. Not found in the literature. We captured the species in cattle droppings.

Genus Pullimosina Roháček, 1983

Pullimosina (Pullimosina) heteroneura (Haliday, 1836)

Material examined. Cattle farm: COASTAL MESETA. 11♀, 2♀♀, Oulad Abbou Village (33°06'59.8"N 7°56'13.4"W), 3.III.2019. 5♂♂, 12♀, Lmchawir Village (32°46'23.1"N 8°29'06.5"W), 17.I.2019. 15♂, 21♀♀, Birjdid Village (33°22'06.7"N 8°00'52.8"W), 21.I.2019. 2♂♂, 4♀♀, Sidi Aabed Village (32°44'16.6"N 9°00'59.0"W), 18.I.2019. 1♀, Mazagan Sea (33°16'24.3"N 8°22'13.9"W), 8.XI.2018. MIDDLE ATLAS. 1♀, Elksiba Village (32°34'10.9"N 6°02'43.1"W), 7.XI.2018. RIF. 2♀♀, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 27.IV.2019. 3♂♂, 1♀, Aïn Zarka Village (35°31'12.7"N 5°20'42.8"W), 23.XII.2018. 1♂, Sidi Mansour Village (35°14'16.7"N 3°57'04.5"W), 3.V.2019. 1♂, Touima Village (35°07'35.8"N 2°56'08.3"W), 18.I.2019. Equine: COASTAL MESETA. 2♂♂, El Ghorba Village (31°57'29"N 6°32'06"W), 9.XII.2018. 1♂, Sidi Maachou Village (33°08'52.8"N 8°07'06.7"W), 14.XII.2018. RIF. 1♀, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 17.V.2021. 2♂♂, 3♀♀, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 19.IV.2019. Goat farm: RIF. 1♂, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 21.IV.2019. 1♀, Beni Mazala Village (35°51'38.7"N 5°23'22.9"W), 28.IV.2019. 1♂, Al Kachla Village (35°50'40.6"N 5°23'12.6"W), 4.V.2019. Sheep husbandry: COASTAL MESETA. 46♀♀, Nahda Village (32°14'22.9"N 8°33'12.2"W), 21.I.2020. 2♂♂, 3♀♀, Oulad Abbou Village (33°06'59.8"N 7°56'13.4"W), 3.III.2019. RIF. 1♀, Beni Mazala Village (35°51'38.7"N 5°23'22.9"W), 28.IV.2019.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. Oued Laou, Tétouan (Marshall et al., 2011).

General distribution. Afrotropical – Cape Verde Is., Uganda, South Africa; Australasian/Oceanic – Australia, Hawaii (USA), New Zealand; Nearctic – Canada; Neotropical – Argentina, Bermuda, Ecuador, Mexico (BCN); Oriental – Taiwan; Palaearctic – Afghanistan, Algeria, Austria, Azores (Portugal), Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is. (Spain), Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece (incl. Crete), Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy (incl. Pantelleria I., Sardinia, Sicily), Japan, Latvia, Macedonia, Madeira (Portugal), Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Roumania, Russia (CET, FE, NET), Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (incl. Balearic Is.), Sweden, Switzerland, Tadjikistan, Tunisia; South Atlantic: Gough I. (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (Marshall et al., 2011).

Biology. We found this species in cattle, sheep, goat, and equine farms. According to Floren (1989) it is developing in various decayed vegetation, cow houses, grass compost, dunghill, potato and rape fields, lake and seashores, and bird's nest on dung beetle.

Pullimosina (P.) zayensis Marshall, 1986

Material examined. Cattle farm: COASTAL MESETA. 1♂, 1♀, Lmchawir Village (32°46'23.1"N 8°29'06.5"W), 17.I.2019. 3♂♂, 1♀, Birjdid Village (33°22'06.7"N 8°00'52.8"W), 21.I.2019. Equine: HIGH ATLAS. 1♂, El Ghorba Village (31°57'29"N 6°32'06"W), 9.XII.2018. Sheep husbandry: COASTAL MESETA. 2♂♂, 1♀, Nahda Village (32°14'22.9"N 8°33'12.2"W), 21.I.2020.

Distribution in Morocco. COASTAL MESETA. Birjdid, Lmchawir, Nahda; HIGH ATLAS. El Ghorba.

General distribution. Nearctic – USA; Neotropical – Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Galápagos Is. (Ecuador), Honduras, Jamaica, St. Kitts, Trinidad, Venezuela; Palaearctic – Canary Is. (Spain), Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Spain (incl. Balearic Is.) (Roháček et al., 2001).

Biology. It was collected in cattle, sheep, and equine farms. According to Carles-Tolrá (2001), this species is found also in sheep droppings.

Genus Rachispoda Lioy, 1864

Rachispoda acrosticalis (Becker, 1903)

Material examined. Cattle farm: RIF. 2♀♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 14.V.2021.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. M’Diq, Smir, Tétouan (Marshall et al., 2011).

General distribution. Afrotropical – Botswana, Cape Verde Is., Madagascar, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Zaire; Palaearctic – Algeria, Azores (Portugal), Canary Is. (Spain), Egypt, Greece, Israel, Italy (Sicily), Malta, Spain, Türkiye (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (Marshall et al., 2011).

Biology. In this study, this species was recorded in cattle droppings.

Rachispoda brevior (Roháček, 1983)

Material examined. Sheep husbandry: RIF. 1♂, Afrasso Village (35°51'37.4"N 5°23'16.0"W), 3.V.2019.

Distribution in Morocco. Atlantic Plain. Oued Bou-Regreg (Marshall et al., 2011).

General distribution. Palaearctic – Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Great Britain, Greece (Crete), Hungary, Israel, Italy (incl. Sardinia), Malta, Morocco, Roumania, Slovakia, Spain, Tunisia, former Yugoslavia (Montenegro, Serbia) (Roháček et al., 2001).

Biology. We reported this species from sheep droppings.

Rachispoda fuscipennis (Haliday, 1833) (Fig. 4)

Material examined. Cattle farm: COASTAL MESETA. 1♂, 1♀, Lmchawir Village (32°46'23.1"N 8°29'06.5"W), 17.I.2019. 1♀, Mazagan Sea (33°16'24.3"N 8°22'13.9"W), 8.XI.2018.

Distribution in Morocco. Eastern Morocco. Oued Bou-Regreg (Roháček et al., 2001).

General distribution. Afrotropical – Madagascar, Namibia, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Zaire; Australasian/Oceanic – Australia, Guam (USA), Hawaii (USA), New Zealand; Oriental – Taiwan; Nearctic – Canada; Neotropical – Bahamas, Bermuda, Galápagos Is. (Ecuador), Mexico (SIN); Palaearctic – Afghanistan, Algeria, Austria, Azerbaijan, Azores (Portugal), Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is. (Spain), Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Iraq, Israel, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), Latvia, Japan, Jordan, Kirghizstan, Malta, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Roumania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain (incl. Balearic Is.), Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, former Yugoslavia (Serbia); South Atlantic: Saint Helena (Roháček et al., 2001).

Biology. Halophilic species associated with saline or brackish environments. The larvae develop in moist substrates containing decomposing organic matter. Adults are observed on the ground near salty wetlands, where they feed on organic debris (Roháček, 1991). In our study, this species is recorded in coastal areas associated with cattle excrement.

Figure 4. Rachispoda fuscipennis (Haliday, 1833). A. Lateral view of the adult showing the general body shape and wing coloration; B. Dorsal view illustrating the thoracic structure, abdomen, and arrangement of setae.

Genus Spelobia Spuler, 1924

Spelobia baezi (Papp, 1977)

Material examined. Cattle farm: RIF. 1♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. 11♂♂, 4♀♀, Aïn Zarka Village (35°31'12.7"N 5°20'42.8"W), 23.XII.2018.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. Aïn Zarka, Bab Taza (Marshall et al., 2011).

General distribution. Palaearctic – Andorra, Canary Is. (Spain), Great Britain (England), Italy (Sardinia, Sicily), Morocco, Spain (Roháček et al., 2001).

Biology. Found in cattle farms in this study. According to Carles-Tolrá (2001), it is reported from cattle droppings.

Spelobia clunipes (Meigen, 1830)

Material examined. Cattle farm: RIF. 6♂♂, 1♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. 20♂♂, 12♀♀, Aïn Zarka Village (35°31'12.7"N 5°20'42.8"W), 23.XII.2018. 1♂, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 19.IV.2019. Equine: RIF. 9♂♂, 2♀♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. Goat farm: RIF. 1♀, Beni Mazala Village (35°51'38.7"N 5°23'22.9"W), 28.IV.2019. 1♀, Al Kachla Village (35°50'40.6"N 5°23'12.6"W), 4.V.2019. Sheep husbandry: RIF. 1♂, Stehat Village (34°49'41.3"N 4°56'36.3"W), 8.I.2019.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. Dardara, Issaguen, Mtahen, Majjou waterfall, Martil, Onsar Akboul, Oued Afertane, Oued Mhannech, Oued Tahaddart (Gatt et al., 2016).

General distribution. Nearctic – Canada; Palaearctic – Afghanistan, Andorra, Austria, Azores (Portugal), Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faeroe Is. (Denmark), Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy (incl. Sicily), Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Mongolia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Roumania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadjikistan, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, former Yugoslavia (Montenegro, Serbia) (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (Gatt et al., 2016).

Biology. This species is found in cattle, sheep, equine, and goat farms. This corroborates the literature data since Schiegg & Munari (1999) qualified it as poly-saprophagous with very large ecological tolerance.

Spelobia hungarica (Villeneuve, 1917)

Material examined. Cattle farm: COASTAL MESETA. 2♂♂, Birjdid Village (33°22'06.7"N 8°00'52.8"W), 21.I.2019. RIF. 1♂, Moulay Bouchta Village (34°29'34.4"N 5°07'30.0"W), 21.I.2019.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. Martil, Tétouan (Marshall et al., 2011).

General distribution. Palaearctic – Denmark, Germany, Greece (Crete), Hungary, Italy (incl. Sardinia), Israel, Spain (Balearic Is.), Tunisia (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (Marshall et al., 2011).

Biology. We found it associated with cattle farms. But Roháček (1983a) reported the species from equine droppings.

Spelobia palmata (Richards, 1927)

Material examined. Cattle farm: RIF. 1♂ 1♀, Aïn Zarka Village (35°31'12.7"N 5°20'42.8"W), 23.XII.2018.

General distribution. Palaearctic – Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Faeroe Is. (Denmark), Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece (incl. Crete), Hungary, Italy, Norway, Roumania, Russia (NET, SET), Slovakia, Spain (incl. Balearic Is.), Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (New record).

Biology. Found only in cattle farms in this work. Chiefly necrophagous species, reported from wet biotopes in forests, meadows with bushes, runs, and nests of small mammals, decayed fungi, marl pits, rotting apples, sap runs, grass compost, and ungulate droppings. It is frequently captured by soil traps (Schiegg & Munari, 1999).

Spelobia quaesita Roháček, 1983.

Material examined. Cattle farm: COASTAL MESETA. 1♂, Aït Messaoud Village (31°43'36.0"N 8°05'14.3"W), 26.IV.2019. RIF. 1♀, Aïn Zarka Village (35°31'12.7"N 5°20'42.8"W), 23.XII.2018. Equine: RIF. 1♂, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. 2♀♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 15.V.2021. 1♂, Dghalyen Village (35°51'03.5"N 5°23'16.6"W), 1.V.2019. Goat farm: RIF. 1♀, Al Kachla Village (35°50'40.6"N 5°23'12.6"W), 4.V.2019. Sheep husbandry: COASTAL MESETA. 2♀♀, Nahda Village (32°14'22.9"N 8°33'12.2"W), 21.I.2020.

Distribution in Morocco. COASTAL MESETA. Aït Messaoud, Nahda; RIF. Aïn Zarka, Al Kachla, Bab Taza, Mansoura.

General distribution. Palaearctic – Algeria, Morocco, Spain (Roháček et al., 2001).

Biology. It is found in cattle, sheep, and equine farms. According to Carles-Tolrá (2001), it is recorded in caves.

Spelobia talparum (Richards, 1927)

Material examined. Cattle farm: RIF. 1♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. Goat farm: RIF. 1♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019.

General distribution. Palaearctic – Afghanistan, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Portugal, Russia (SET), Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine (Roháček et al., 2001); Morocco (New record for North Africa).

Biology. In our field work, the species was found in cattle and goat farms. According to the literature data, females were frequently collected during migration searching for new burrows for oviposition, potato, wheat, oats, and rape fields, mountain birch forests, deciduous forests, wet meadows and marshes, heather, moss, ruderal land (Floren, 1989).

Genus Spinilimosina Roháček, 1983

Spinilimosina brevicostata (Duda, 1918)

Material examined. Cattle farm: COASTAL MESETA. 3♂♂, 3♀♀, Safi City (32°23'53.0"N 9°10'39.0"W), 7.XI.2018. 1♂ 1♀, Sidi Aabed Village (32°44'16.6"N 9°00'59.0"W), 18.I.2019. Equine: HIGH ATLAS. 1♀, El Ghorba Village (31°57'29"N 6°32'06"W), 9.XII.2018.

Distribution in Morocco. COASTAL MESETA. Safi, Sidi Aabed; HIGH ATLAS. El Ghorba.

General distribution. Afrotropical – Ethiopia, Madagascar, South Africa, Zaire; Australasian/Oceanic – Hawaii (USA), Papua New Guinea; Nearctic – USA; Neotropical – Bermuda, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Jamaica, St. Kitts (Nevis); Oriental – Nepal, Sri Lanka, Taiwan; Palaearctic – Afghanistan, Azores (Portugal), Canary Is. (Spain), Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Madeira (Portugal), Malta, Morocco, Poland, Russia (SET), Spain, Tunisia, former Yugoslavia (Roháček et al., 2001).

Biology. Like in the literature, we found Spinilimosina brevicostata associated with cattles and equines. In effect, Carles-Tolrá (2001) found it in the faeces of cattle and horses.

Genus Telomerina Roháček, 1983

Telomerina flavipes (Meigen, 1830)

Material examined. Cattle farm: RIF. 1♂, 1♀, Touima Village (35°07'35.8"N 2°56'08.3"W), 18.I.2018. Sheep husbandry: COASTAL MESETA. 1♀, Nahda Village (32°14'22.9"N 8°33'12.2"W), 21.I.2020.

General distribution. Afrotropical – South Africa; Australasian/ Oceanic – Australia (NSW), New Zealand; Nearctic – Canada, Greenland (subfossil), USA; Neotropical – Brazil, Chile, Juan Chile (Fernandez Is.), Mexico; Oriental – Taiwan; Palaearctic – Afghanistan, Andorra, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is. (Spain), Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy (incl. Sicily, Pantelleria I.), Iran, Japan, Malta, Mongolia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Roumania, Russia (CET, NET, SET), Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadjikistan, Tunisia, former Yugoslavia (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (New record).

Biology. Captured in cattle and sheep farms in this work. It is known to be cosmopolitan, common, chiefly necrophagous but also related to excrements: cow houses and grass compost, bird's nests (Floren, 1989).

Telomerina pseudoleucoptera (Duda, 1924)

Material examined. Equine: RIF. 1♀, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 17.V.2021.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. Majjou waterfall (Gatt et al., 2016).

General distribution. Palaearctic – Andorra, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Russia (NET), Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (Kettani et al., 2022).

Biology. This species is associated with equine farms in this research. It is chiefly coprophagous on the dung of large herbivores. It is also recorded from pastures, cow stables, cow droppings, faeces, grass compost, and potato fields (Schiegg & Munari, 1999).

Genus Trachyopella Duda, 1918

Trachyopella (Trachyopella) atomus (Rondani, 1880)

Material examined. Cattle farm: RIF. 1♂, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 29.V.2021.

General distribution. Afrotropical – Zaire; Australasian/ Oceanic – Guam (USA), Hawaii (USA); Palaearctic – Afghanistan, Azores (Portugal), Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Madeira (Portugal), Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Roumania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadjikistan (Roháček et al., 2001); Morocco (New record).

Biology. In this study, the species is found associated with cattle farms. However, according to Carles-Tolrá (2001), it was found in sheep droppings.

Trachyopella (T.) coprina (Duda, 1918)

Material examined. Cattle farm: COASTAL MESETA. 1♂, Oulad Abbou Village (33°06'59.8"N 7°56'13.4"W), 3.III.2019. 2♂♂, 3♀♀, Birjdid Village (33°22'06.7"N 8°00'52.8"W), 21.I.2019. RIF. 1♂, 1♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. 2♂♂, 6♀♀, Aïn Zarka Village (35°31'12.7"N 5°20'42.8"W), 23.XII.2018. Sheep husbandry: COASTAL MESETA. 6♂♂, 7♀♀, Nahda Village (32°14'22.9"N 8°33'12.2"W), 21.I.2020. RIF. 1♂, 1♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 23.V.2021.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. Oued Jnane Niche (Gatt et al., 2016).

General distribution. Afrotropical – Zaire; Nearctic – USA; Palaearctic – Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Great Britain, Greece (Crete), Hungary, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Malta, Spain, Sweden (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (Kettani et al., 2022).

Biology. We collected the species in cattle and sheep farms. Carles-Tolrá (2001) related it also with cattles but, with equine instead of with sheep.

Trachyopella (T.) lineafrons (Spuler, 1925)

Material examined. Cattle farm: RIF. 2♂♂, 2♀♀, Aïn Zarka Village (35°31'12.7"N 5°20'42.8"W), 23.XII.2018. Sheep husbandry: RIF. 1♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 30.V.2021.

General distribution. Australasian/Oceanic – New Zealand; Nearctic – Canada; Neotropical – Argentina; Palaearctic – Afghanistan, Belgium, Canary Is. (Spain), Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Norway, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (New record for North Africa).

Biology. In this research, the species was found on cattle and sheep farms. According to Carles-Tolrá (2001), it was found associated with cattle, equine, pigs, and rabbits.

Trachyopella (T.) melania (Haliday, 1836)

Material examined. Cattle farm: COASTAL MESETA. 1♀, Lmchawir Village (32°46'23.1"N 8°29'06.5"W), 17.I.2019. 1♂, Oulad Abbou Village (33°06'59.8"N 7°56'13.4"W), 3.III.2019. Sheep husbandry: COASTAL MESETA. 7♂♂, 5♀♀, Oulad Abbou Village (33°06'59.8"N 7°56'13.4"W), 3.III.2019.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. M’Diq, Oued Nwawel (Gatt et al., 2016).

General distribution. Palaearctic – Andorra, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland, Malta, Mongolia, Netherlands, Norway, Roumania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (Kettani et al., 2022).

Biology. Found with cattle and sheep farms. According to Carles-Tolrá (2001), the species is associated with cattle, equine, pigs, and rabbits.

Trachyopella (T.) straminea Roháček & Marshall, 1986

Material examined. Cattle farm: MIDDLE ATLAS. 1♀, Elksiba Village (32°34'10.9"N 6°02'43.1"W), 7.XI.2018. Goat farm: RIF. 1♂, 1♀, Al Kachla Village (35°50'40.6"N 5°23'12.6"W), 4.V.2019. Sheep husbandry: COASTAL MESETA. 3♂♂, 1♀, Oulad Abbou Village (33°06'59.8"N 7°56'13.4"W), 3.III.2019. RIF. 20♂♂, 7♀♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 23.V.2021.

General distribution. Nearctic – Canada; Palaearctic – Andorra, Canary Is. (Spain), Czech, Republic, Greece (Crete), Hungary, Malta, Slovakia, Spain (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (New record for North Africa).

Biology. We captured the species, like Carles-Tolrá (2001) in both sheep and cattle farms, but also in goat farms instead of poultry ones.

Trachyopella (T.) (sp).

Material examined. Sheep husbandry: RIF. 2♂♂, 1♀, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 23.V.2021.

Remarks. That is probably an undescribed species. Further specimens including females are needed to confirm its identity.

Subfamily Sphaerocerinae Macquart, 1835

Genus Ischiolepta Lioy, 1864

Ischiolepta vaporariorum (Fallén, 1820)

Material examined. Cattle farm: RIF. 3♀♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. 2♂♂, Aïn Zarka Village (35°31'12.7"N 5°20'42.8"W), 23.XII.2018. 1♀, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 19.IV.2019. Goat farm: RIF. 1♂, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. Sheep husbandry: COASTAL MESETA. 1♀, Nahda Village (32°14'22.9"N 8°33'12.2"W), 21.I.2019.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. Aïn Tissemlal, Oued Guallet (Gatt et al., 2016).

General distribution. Nearctic – Canada, USA. Palaearctic – Afghanistan, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Roumania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain (incl. Balearic Is.), Sweden, Switzerland, Tadjikistan, Tunisia (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (Kettani et al., 2022).

Biology. We found it with cattle, goat, and sheep farms. According to Floren (1989), it is common, developing in various matters, cow houses, dunghill, pastures, grass compost, urinal, maple in sap, wet meadows, lake shores, and Swamps.

Ischiolepta scabricula Haliday, 186

Material examined. Cattle farm: RIF. 1♀, Aïn Zarka Village (35°31'12.7"N 5°20'42.8"W), 23.XII.2018.

General distribution. Afrotropical – Ghana, South Africa, Tanzania; Nearctic – Canada (OR); Neotropical – Brazil; Oriental – India (Orissa); Palaearctic – Afghanistan, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Roumania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (New record for North Africa).

Biology. This species was found in cattle droppings in this study. But, according to Hayashi (1986), it is collected on dung, grass compost, potato fields, and cow houses.

Ischiolepta pusilla (Haliday, 1836)

Material examined. Cattle farm: RIF. 1♂, 2♀♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. Equine: RIF. 2♂♂, 1♀, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 19.IV.2019. Sheep husbandry: COASTAL MESETA. 2♀♀, Oulad Abbou Village (33°06'59.8"N 7°56'13.4"W), 3.III.2019.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. Oued Laou, Tétouan (Marshall et al., 2011).

General distribution. Australasian/Oceanic – Australia (territory not given), New Zealand; Nearctic – Canada; Neotropical – Argentina, Chile; Palaearctic – Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is. (Spain); Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Faeroe Is. (Denmark), Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Italy (incl. Sicily), Japan, Latvia, Madeira (Portugal), Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Roumania, Russia (CET, NET, SET, WS), Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, former Yugoslavia (Serbia) (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (Marshall et al., 2011).

Biology. This study associates the species with cattle, equine, and sheep farms. According to Floren (1989), it is found on cow house.

Genus Lotobia Lioy, 1864

Lotobia africana (Becker, 1907)

Material examined. Cattle farm: RIF. 1♀, Afrasso Village (35°51'37.4"N 5°23'16.0"W), 3.V.2019.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. Afrasso.

General distribution. Afrotropical – Rwanda, South Africa, Zaire; Palaearctic – France (Corsica), Hungary, Israel, Morocco, Slovenia, Tunisia (Roháček et al., 2001).

Biology. According to the present study, the species grows in cattle faeces.

Lotobia pallidiventris (Meigen, 1830)

Material examined. Equine: RIF. 1♂, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 19.IV.2019.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. M’Diq, Oued Laou, Tétouan (Marshall et al., 2011).

General distribution. Afrotropical – Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Africa, Zaire; Oriental – India (Assam), Nepal, Pakistan; Palaearctic – Afghanistan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France (incl. Corsica), Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy (incl. Sardinia), Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Latvia, Mongolia, Roumania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain (incl. Balearic Is.), Switzerland, Tadjikistan, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, former Yugoslavia (Roháček et al., 2001). Morocco (Marshall et al., 2011).

Biology. In our work, this species is found in equine farms. According to Papp, this species is developing in droppings of large mammals (Papp, 1979).

Genus Sphaerocera Latreille, 1804

Sphaerocera curvipes Latreille, 1805

Material examined. Cattle farm: RIF. 1♂, Mansoura Village (34°50'02.9"N 4°57'49.7"W), 29. V.2021. 3♀♀, Aïn Zarka Village (35°31'12.7"N 5°20'42.8"W), 23.XII.2018. 8♂♂, 4♀♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. 1♀, Gouarat Village (35°40'38.6"N 5°52'21.6"W), 3.VI.2019. 10 ♂♂. 6♀♀, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 27.IV.2019. Equine: RIF. 1♂, Ben Karrich Village (34°49'55.2"N 4°58'30.0"W), 19.IV.2019. Goat farm: RIF. 2♀♀, Bab Taza Village (35°02'43.2"N 5°13'47.8"W), 28.IV.2019. 2♂♂, Al Kachla Village (35°50'40.6"N 5°23'12.6"W), 4.V.2019. Sheep husbandry: RIF. 6♂♂, 1♀, Afrasso Village (35°51'37.4"N 5°23'16.0"W), 3. V.2019.

Distribution in Morocco. RIF. Afrasso, Aîn Zarka, Al Kachla, Bab Taza, Ben Karrich, Gouarat, Mansoura.

General distribution. Afrotropical – Ethiopia; Australasian/ Oceanic – Australia (ACT, NSW), New Zealand; Nearctic – Canada; Neotropical – South America; Oriental – India, Pakistan; Palaearctic – Afghanistan, Algeria, Austria, Azores (Portugal), Belgium, Bulgaria, China (TIB), Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Faeroe Is. (Denmark), Finland, France (incl. Corsica), Germany, Great Britain, Greece (incl. Crete), Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Israel, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Madeira (Portugal), Malta, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Roumania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain (incl. Balearic Is.), Sweden, Switzerland, Tadjikistan, Tunisia, Ukraine, former Yugoslavia (Roháček et al., 2001).

Biology. We found this species associated with cattle, sheep, equine, and goats. According to Floren (1989), it has a wide ecological tolerance, larvae are chiefly coprophagous, cow houses, cow dung, pastures, potato fields, maple sap, grass compost, and on nettles.

DISCUSSION

Sphaeroceridae were consistently present across all surveyed farms, including those housing cattle, sheep, equines, goats, and poultry. Notably, cattle farms exhibited the highest species richness, with 36 species recorded. This was followed by sheep farms with 21 species, equine farms with 11 species, goat farms with 8 species, and poultry farms with four species. Sampling conducted on breeding farms in Morocco has proven to be an effective approach for studying the Sphaeroceridae fauna. The observed imbalance between collected males (4,491) and females (3,727) may be attributed to environmental conditions generally less favourable for females. A key factor influencing this disparity is the type of stable (open, semi-open, or closed), which affected variations in humidity (50% to 79%), temperature (4°C to 36°C), and light intensity (though not measured).

In closed stables, where light intensity was low, humidity high, and temperature lower than outdoor conditions, we observed a higher number of females compared to males. This was particularly evident for species such as Crumomyia glabrifrons, Norrbomia costalis, Coproica digitata, Opalimosina mirabilis, and Telomerina flavipes. This preference of females for enclosed environments can be attributed to their inclination to select sites favourable for feeding and oviposition. These conditions, characterized by lower light and higher humidity, likely offer the essential resources and shelter necessary for successful reproduction. Müller et al. (2016) claim that these environments lead to the rapid growth of insect populations, which may cause animal health issues and reduce agricultural exploitation's productivity. The differing sampling conditions in open stables, characterized by high light intensity, low humidity, and elevated temperatures, led to the capture of a higher number of males compared to females. This trend was particularly evident in species such as Copromyza equina, Lotophila atra, Bifronsina bifrons, Spelobia clunipes, Trachyopella straminea, and Sphaerocera curvipes.

Species of Sphaeroceridae are primarily saprophagous, with larvae developing in decaying organic matter. However, much of our understanding of their dietary habits is derived from adult collection records. Since adults are generally more abundant on or near larval feeding substrates (Roháček, 1982a), these records provide valuable insights into the suitability of specific environments as larval habitats. Richards (1930) highlighted that Sphaeroceridae species collected from dung are typically not restricted to the excrement of a single host species. Instead, these coprophilous species exhibit broad ecological tolerance. Cattle farms were the richest in specificity among the farms studied, with species such as Norrbomia hispanica, Opacifrons coxata and Spelobia palmata. These results correspond to previous work (Hammer, 1941; Carles-Tolrá, 2001), which highlights the importance of cattle farms as essential habitats for Sphaeroceridae. Five species were exclusively found on horse farms, such as Copromyza equina, Crumomyia glabrifrons and Poecilosomella angulata. Notably, Richards (1930) reported that Copromyza equina is primarily associated with horse manure, although it can occasionally be found on cow dung. The other species have also been linked to equine excrement in previous studies by Carles-Tolrá (2001), Pitkin (1988), Hammer (1941), and Hussey (1957) (Table 2).

Table 1. Species of Sphaeroceridae from Morocco.

Species	RIF	HIGH ATLAS	MIDDLE ATLAS	ANTI ATLAS	SAHARA	COASTAL MESETA
Copromyza equina Fallén, 1820	X
Crumomyia glabrifrons (Meigen, 1830)	X		X
Lotophila atra (Meigen, 1830)	X					X***
Norrbomia costalis (Zetterstedt, 1847)	X**					X**
Norrbomia hispanica (Duda, 1923)	X
Norrbomia marginatis (Adams, 1905)	X					X***
Norrbomia sordida (Zetterstedt, 1847)	X					X
Bifronsina bifrons (Stenhammar, 1855)	X		X			X
Coproica digitata (Duda, 1918)	X					X***
Coproica ferruginata (Stenhammar, 1855)	X		X***			X***
Coproica hirticula Collin, 1956	X		X***	X		X***
Coproica hirtula (Rondani, 1880)	X		X***	X		X***
Coproica lugubris (Haliday, 1835)	X		X***			X***
Coproica pusio (Zetterstedt, 1847)	X
Coproica Roháčeki Carles-Tolrá, 1990	X		X***			X***
Coproica rufifrons Hayashi, 1991	X		X***			X***
Coproica vagans (Haliday, 1833)	X***		X***	X	X	X***
Elachisoma aterrimum (Haliday, 1833)	X*					X*
Elachisoma bajzae Papp, 1983	X*					X*
Elachisoma kerteszi (Duda, 1924)	X*					X*
Elachisoma pilosum (Duda, 1924)	X*					X*
Gonioneura spinipennis (Haliday, 1836)						X*
Leptocera fontinalis (Fallén, 1826)	X
Leptocera nigra Olivier, 1813	X***		X			X***
Limosina silvatica (Meigen, 1830)	X		X
Minilimosina (Svarciella) ismayi Roháček, 1983	X*
Minilimosina (Svarciella) vitripennis Zetterstedt, 1847	X***		X
Nudopella hem (Roháček & Marshall, 1986)	X**
Nudopella leucoptera (Haliday, 1836)	X*
Opacifrons coxata (Stenhammar, 1855)	X
Opalimosina (Dentilimosina) denticulata (Duda, 1924)	X*
Opalimosina (Opalimosina) mirabilis (Collin, 1902)	X
Poecilosomella angulata (Thomson, 1869)	X		X***
Pseudocollinella jorlii (Carles-Tolrá, 1990)	X***		X
Pullimosina (Pullimosina) heteroneura (Haliday, 1836)	X		X***			X***
Pullimosina (P.) zayensis Marshall, 1986		X***				X***
Rachispoda acrostichalis (Becker, 1903)	X
Rachispoda brevior (Rohácek, 1983)	X***					X
Rachispoda fuscipennis (Haliday, 1833)	X
Spelobia baezi (Papp, 1977)	X***
Spelobia clunipes (Meigen, 1830)	X
Spelobia hungarica (Villeneuve, 1917)	X					X***
Spelobia palmata (Richards, 1927)	X**
Spelobia quaesita Roháček, 1983	X***					X***
Spelobia talparum (Richards, 1927)	X*
Spinilimosina brevicostata (Duda, 1918)		X***				X***
Telomerina flavipes (Meigen, 1830)	X**					X**
Telomerina pseudoleucoptera (Duda, 1924)	X
Trachyopella (Trachyopella) atomus (Rondani, 1880)	X**
Trachyopella (T.) coprina (Duda, 1918)	X					X***
Trachyopella (T.) lineafrons (Spuler, 1925)	X*
Trachyopella (T.) melania (Haliday, 1836)	X					X***
Trachyopella (T.) straminea Roháček & Marshall, 1986	X*		X*			X*
Ischiolepta (pusilla or vaporariorum) (Fallén, 1820)	X					X***
Ischiolepta scabricula Haliday, 1836	X*
Lotobia africana (Becker, 1907)	X
Lotobia pallidiventris (Meigen, 1830)	X
Sphaerocera curvipes Latreille, 1805	X

Table 2. Review of literature on the associations of Sphaeroceridae with livestock farms.

Species	Cattle	Sheep	Equine	Goat	Poultry/birds	Pig	Rabbit
Copromyza equina			Richards, 1930*
Crumomyia glabrifrons	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*		*
Lotophila atra	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	Roháček, 1989*	Pitkin, 1986*			Roháček, 1989	Roháček, 1989
Norrbomia costalis	*	*	Pitkin, 1986*	*
Norrbomia hispanica	*
Norrbomia marginatis	*
Norrbomia sordida	Pitkin, 1988*	*	Carles-Tolrá, 2001; Pitkin 1988*	*
Bifronsina bifrons	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	Pitkin, 1988*	*		Pitkin, 1988
Coproica digitata	*	*	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*
Coproica ferruginata	Hammer, 1941; Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	Carles-Tolrá, 2001; Pitkin 1988*	Hammer, 1941; Pitkin, 1988; Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	*	Pitkin, 1988*	Pitkin, 1988; Carles-Tolrá, 2001
Coproica hirticula	Pitkin, 1988; Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	*	*	Carles-Tolrá, 2001	Pitkin, 1988	Pitkin, 1988
Coproica hirtula	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	*	*	Pitkin, 1988; Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	Pitkin, 1988	Pitkin, 1988
Coproica lugubris	Pitkin, 1988; Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	Carles-Tolrá,2001; Pitkin, 1988*	Pitkin, 1988; Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	*		Pitkin, 1988	Pitkin, 1988
Coproica pusio	*			*		Pitkin 1988
Coproica Roháčeki	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	*	*	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*
Coproica rufifrons	*	*	*	*
Coproica vagans	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	Pitkin, 1988*	*	Pitkin, 1988	Pitkin, 1988	Pitkin, 1988
Elachisoma aterrimum	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	Pitkin, 1988			Pitkin, 1988
Elachisoma bajzae	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	*			Carles-Tolrá, 2001
Elachisoma kerteszi	*	*	Carles-Tolrá, 2001
Elachisoma pilosum	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*				Pitkin, 1988
Gonioneura spinipennis	Pitkin, 1988; Carles-Tolrá, 2001*		Pitkin, 1988			Pitkin, 1988	Pitkin, 1988
Leptocera fontinalis	Pitkin, 1988*		Pitkin, 1988*				Pitkin, 1988
Leptocera nigra	(*)	(*)	(*)		(*)
Limosina silvatica	Roháček, 1983; Pitkin, 1988; Carles-Tolrá, 2001*		Pitkin, 1988				Pitkin, 1988
Minilimosina ismayi	*(?)			*(?)
Minilimosina vitripennis	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	*
Nudopella hem	*(?)
Nudopella leucoptera	Roháček & Marshall, 1986; Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	Roháček & Marshall, 1986; Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	Roháček & Marshall, 1986	*		Roháček & Marshall, 1986; Pitkin, 1988
Nudopella sp. (n.?)				*
Opacifrons coxata	(*)
Opalimosina denticulata	Pitkin, 1988: Carles-Tolrá, 2001*		Pitkin, 1988	*
Opalimosina mirabilis	Pitkin, 1988; Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	Pitkin, 1988; Carles-Tolrá, 2001	Pitkin, 1988	Pitkin, 1988	Pitkin, 1988	Pitkin, 1988
Poecilosomella angulata			*
Pseudocollinella jorlii	(*)
Pullimosina heteroneura	Pitkin, 1988; Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	Carles-Tolrá, 2001; Pitkin, 1988*	Pitkin, 1988*	Pitkin, 1988*	Carles-Tolrá, 2001	Pitkin, 1988	Pitkin, 1988
Pullimosina zayensis	*	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	*
Rachispoda acrosticalis	*(?)
Rachispoda brevior		(*)
Rachispoda fuscipennis	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*
Spelobia baezi	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*
Spelobia clunipes	Hussey, 1957; Pitkin, 1988; Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	Carles-Tolrá, 2001; Pitkin, 1988*	Richards, 1930; Hussey, 1957; Pitkin, 1988*	*
Spelobia hungarica	*		Roháček, 1983a
Spelobia palmata	(Pitkin, 1988) (*)	(Pitkin, 1988)
Spelobia quaesita	*	*	*	*
Spelobia talparum	*			*
Spinilimosina brevicostata	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*		Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	Pitkin, 1988			Pitkin, 1988
Telomerina flavipes	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	*
Telomerina pseudoleucoptera	Carles-Tolrá, 2001		Pitkin, 1988*
Trachyopella atomus	Roháček & Marshall, 1986,*	Carles-Tolrá, 2001	Roháček & Marshall, 1986			Roháček & Marshall, 1986; Pitkin, 1988
Trachyopella coprina	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	*	Roháček & Marshall, 1986
Trachyopella lineafrons	Roháček & Marshall, 1986; Pitkin, 1988*	*	Roháček & Marshall, 1986			Pitkin, 1988	Roháček & Marshall, 1986
Trachyopella melania	Roháček & Marshall, 1986; Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	*	Roháček & Marshall, 1986			Roháček & Marshall, 1986; Pitkin, 1988	Roháček & Marshall, 1986
Trachyopella straminea	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*		*	Carles-Tolrá, 2001
Trachyopella sp.	*	*
Ischiolepta pusilla	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	Pitkin, 1988	*		Carles-Tolrá, 2001
Ischiolepta scabricula	Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	Carles-Tolrá, 2001			Carles-Tolrá, 2001
Ischiolepta vaporariorum	*	*	*
Lotobia africana	*
Lotobia pallidiventris	Carles-Tolrá, 2001		Pitkin, 1988*
Sphaerocera curvipes	Pitkin, 1988; Carles-Tolrá, 2001*	Carles-Tolrá, 2001; Pitkin, 1988*	Richards, 1930; Pitkin, 1988*	*

* indicates that a species was recorded on this type of farm during the present study; (*) indicates that a species was reported on this type of farm, although literature data suggest it may not develop in dung; *(?) indicates that a species was found on this type of farm, but no specific information is available on its larval biology.

Sheep and goat farms exhibited low specific richness. The occurrence of Rachispoda brevior on sheep farms is often associated with moist conditions (Roháček, 1991). Dung from poultry facilities yielded species such as Coproica ferruginata, Coproica Roháčeki, and Leptocera nigra. These observations corroborate earlier reports of coprophilous assemblages on poultry substrates, including Coproica vagans and Opalimosina mirabilis (Pitkin, 1988; Carles-Tolrá, 2001) (Table 2). While Roháček (1989) documented the occurrence of Lotophila atra in the same context, Carles-Tolrá (2001) also observed that Ischiolepta pusilla and Coproica ferruginata were linked to pig farms. Similarly, Pitkin (1988) documented several Sphaeroceridae species linked to pig farming, including Bifronsina bifrons, Coproica vagans, Elachisoma aterrimum, and Trachyopella (Trachyopella) melania. In our study, these species were also recorded in other types of livestock farms, however, pig farms were not included within the scope of this research. Certain species demonstrated a broader habitat preference, being present across three types of livestock farms. For instance, Lotophila atra and Ischiolepta vaporariorum were recorded on cattle, sheep, and horse farms. Roháček (1989) previously identified Lotophila atra in association with pig and rabbit excrement, while Pitkin (1986) reported its presence on horse farms. Furthermore, species such as Nudopella leucoptera, Trachyopella straminea, and Ischiolepta pusilla were found on cattle, sheep, and goat farms. Notably, Lotophila atra had already been observed by Roháček (1989) in sheep, rabbit, and pig farms, further emphasizing its adaptability to diverse environments. The species Sphaerocera curvipes was detected across all four types of livestock farming systems (Cattle, Sheep, Equine, and Goats). Hussey (1957) reported that both Spelobia clunipes and Sphaerocera curvipes are commonly encountered on equine and cattle farms. Similarly, Richards (1930) recorded 29 species associated with dung, 15 of which were either restricted to or predominantly abundant on dung. Among these, Spelobia clunipes, Copromyza equina, and Sphaerocera curvipes were particularly noted as being common on horse manure but rarely found on cow dung (Pitkin, 1986). These findings are especially significant for Pullimosina heteroneura, which Hussey (1957) identified as one of the most frequently encountered species associated with stable manure. The results of this study are a continuation of previous works, such as those of Carles-Tolrá (2001), Pitkin (1986), and Hammer (1941), which confirm that cattle and horse farms are important habitats for Sphaeroceridae. However, some species presented ecologies that were not previously known, such as for Nudopella (n.) sp., reserved for goat farms, or Rachispoda brevior, mainly linked to sheep farms.

The biogeographic analysis of the Sphaeroceridae family showed that all the species inventoried in this study have a Palaearctic distribution, thus, no species endemic to Morocco has been recorded. Overall, 63% of the recorded species exhibit broad geographical ranges; Several taxa occur both in the Palaearctic and the Afrotropical (South African) regions, for example: Lotobia africana, or in the Nearctic (Sphaerocera curvipes, Spelobia clunipes), while some are primarily Afrotropical, including Trachyopella (Trachyopella) coprina and Rachispoda acrostichalis. In addition, 33% of the species have a limited distribution in the Palaearctic, such as Opalimosina (Dentilimosina) denticulata, Rachispoda brevior, and Spelobia talparum (Roháček et al., 2001). 43% of the Sphaeroceridae fauna is associated with the Iberian distribution: 42 species are shared with Spain and 13 with Portugal. About 56% of the studied species are in common with the other North African countries, in particular Tunisia with 30 shared species, Algeria with 10 species, and Egypt with 15 species in common; no species are shared with Libya (Carles-Tolrá, 2002). Among the Fauna inventoried in this study, three species are considered exotic being probably accidentally introduced in Morocco from their natural range; these are Norrbomia hispanica, native to the Mediterranean European region (France, Italy, Spain), Coproica rufifrons originating from Asia, and Coproica pusio originating from Europe, human activities such as trade or agriculture is the main factors responsible for the dispersion of insects, which leads to the appearance of exotic species, thus promoting the modification of the faunal composition of countries.

This study makes a significant contribution to the understanding of the variety of the Sphaeroceridae fauna in Moroccan farms, by highlighting significant disparities in the specific composition depending on the different types of farms. In particular, cattle farms were important sources of diversity, while sheep, goat and poultry farms showed more specific and less varied communities. Intensity environmental variations, such as humidity, temperature, and light intensity influenced the distribution of species and sexes. The results we obtained confirm that Sphaeroceridae are relevant ecological indicators for evaluating environmental conditions and the quality of organic substrates on farms. Furthermore, comparisons with previous data support the hypothesis that some species exhibit high ecological plasticity, while others prefer specific substrates or habitats.

AUTHOR′S CONTRIBUTION

The authors confirm their contribution to the article as follows: The late Paul Beuk had a significant role in conducting this research, he identified the Sphaeroceridae material and revised the manuscript but he passed away before the publication of the article. We honor his memory and his valuable role in this work and are very saddened by his death; K. Bouzrarf: Writing the original project, collecting specimens in the field, and revising the manuscript; A. Qalmoun: Writing the original project, collecting specimens in the field and revising the manuscript; R. Akhrif: Revising the manuscript; B. Belqat: Conceptualization and supervision of the work, revision, correction and edition of the manuscript. The authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

FUNDING

This research received no specific grant from any funding agencies.

AVAILABILITY OF DATA AND MATERIAL

The specimens listed in this study are deposited in the Diptera Collection of the Natuurhistorisch Museum Maastricht, De Bosquetplein 6-7, NL-6211KJ Maastricht, Netherlands, and are available from the curator, upon request.

ETHICS APPROVAL AND CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE

This study only included arthropod material, and all required ethical guidelines for the treatment and use of animals were strictly adhered to in accordance with international, national, and institutional regulations. No human participants were involved in any studies conducted by the authors for this article.

CONSENT FOR PUBLICATION

Not applicable.

CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the late Paul Beuk, whose expertise and crucial role in identifying the specimens significantly contributed to the success of this study. His knowledge, scientific rigor, and dedication to entomology have been invaluable to this work. Although Paul has passed away, his influence endures through the specimens he identified and his passion for science. May his legacy continue to inspire all those who, like him, dedicate their lives to research and the preservation of knowledge. We would like to express our deep gratitude to all the reviewers for their constructive comments and relevant suggestions which greatly contributed to the improvement of this manuscript.