Ecdyonurusaurasius sp. nov. (Insecta, Ephemeroptera, Heptageniidae, Ecdyonurinae), a new micro-endemic mayfly species from Aurès Mountains (north-eastern Algeria)

Baetidae (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) of Aurès Mountains (Algeria): A New Species of the Baetis alpinus Species Group, with Notes on Baetis Laech, 1815 Biogeography within Maghreb

A new species, Baetis (Baetis) dihyaesp. nov., belonging to the Baetis alpinus species group, is described and illustrated based on larval material collected in the Aurès Mountains (northeastern Algeria) in 2020-2021. This new species is closely related to three European species, e.g., Baetis (B.) alpinus (Pictet, 1843); B. (B.) nubecularis Eaton, 1898; and B. (B.) pasquetorum Righetti & Thomas, 2002 by the combination of the following characteristics: (i) more than one short, stout bristle at the tip of segment II of the maxillary palp and (ii) a well-developed paracercus. However, the new species clearly differs from all congeners of the Baetis alpinus species group primarily by the (a) structure of mouthparts-with 14-18 long submarginal setae arranged in a single irregular row on the dorsal surface of the labrum; 2-6 short, stout bristles at the tip of segment II of the maxillary palp; and segment II of the labial palp without a considerably developed apico-internal lobe); (b) setation of abdominal terga, with a few triangular-shaped scales sparsely scattered near the posterior margin only; and (c) a well-developed paracercus, comprised of more than 50 segments. Primary data on the biology and distribution of this new species are provided, and molecular affinities are verified by the analysis of COI (barcode) sequences. Detailed notes on the distribution of mayfly species belonging to the Baetis alpinus species group common in Western Europe and the western part of North Africa are presented. The historical movement of Baetis representatives between Europe, North West Africa, and subsequently Algeria, with the land bridges 'Strait of Gibraltar' and 'Strait of Sicily' as colonization routes, is discussed in detail and identified in the present study as the Western Algeria colonization path and Eastern Algeria colonization path, respectively.

Two new species of Centroptilum Eaton, 1869 from North Africa (Ephemeroptera, Baetidae)

Based on recently collected larvae from Algeria and Morocco, the species delimitation within the genus Centroptilum Eaton, 1869 in that region is validated. Two new species are described and illustrated, one from north-eastern Algeria, and one from North Morocco, using an integrated approach with morphological and molecular evidence. A table summarising the morphological differences between the new species and Centroptilumluteolum (Müller, 1776) from Central Europe is provided. Further, molecular evidence for additional undescribed species of Centroptilum in other regions of the West Palearctic is provided and discussed.