Article

Laila Zouhair, PhD Student at the Laboratory of Ecology, Systematics and Conservation of Biodiversity (LESCB), URL-CNRST N°18, FS, Abdelmalek Essaadi University (93002, Morocco, Tetouan, Street of Sebta, Mhannech II); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4417-7054; e-mail: laila.zouhair@etu.uae.ac.ma
Patrick Grootaert, PhD, research entomologist and expert in Diptera taxonomy and systematics (Empidoidea) at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, O.D. Phylogeny and Taxonomy, Entomology (B1000, Belgium, Brussels, Vautier street 29); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2149-9229; e-mail: pgrootaert@yahoo.co.uk
Raimundo Real, Full Professor at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain, Biogeography, Diversity and Conservation Research Group, Dept. Animal Biology (29071, Spain, Malaga, Campus of Teatinos); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6642-1284; e-mail: rrgimenez@uma.es
Enrique Viguera, Full Professor at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain, Genetics Area, Dept. Cellular Biology, Genetics and Physiology (29071, Spain, Malaga, Campus of Teatinos); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5475-3807; e-mail: eviguera@uma.es
Ana del Pino-Pérez, Associate Researcher at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain, Genetics Area, Dpt. Cellular Biology, Genetics and Physiology (29071, Spain, Malaga, Campus of Teatinos); e-mail: anadelpp4@gmail.com
Ana Luz Marquez, Full Professor at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain, Biogeography, Diversity and Conservation Research Group, Dept. Animal Biology (29071, Spain, Malaga, Campus of Teatinos); e-mail: almarquez@uma.es
Kawtar Kettani, Full Professor at the Faculty of Sciences, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, Morocco, Laboratory of Ecology, Systematics and Conservation of Biodiversity (LESCB), URL-CNRST N°18, FS, Abdelmalek Essaadi University (93002, Morocco, Tetouan, Street of Sebta, Mhannech II); iD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2361-3996; e-mail: kettani.ka@gmail.com

Zouhair L., Grootaert P., Real R., Viguera E., del Pino-Pérez A., Marquez A.L., Kettani K. 2026. Ocydromia (Diptera: Hybotidae) in Morocco: molecular test of faunal composition, new data on distribution and ecology. Nature Conservation Research 11(3): 119–121. https://dx.doi.org/10.24189/ncr.2026.025

We present here the first update on the distribution of the genus Ocydromia in Morocco since its initial record more than a century ago, based on Ocydromia glabricula. The data, based on surveys conducted over more than two decades across Morocco, confirm that Ocydromia glabricula remains the sole representative of its genus in Morocco. Among the hundreds of surveyed sites in different regions of Morocco, including both protected and non-protected areas, Ocydromia glabricula was encountered exclusively in certain Protected Areas in the Moroccan Rif. For the first time, the COI barcodes of the species from North Africa have been presented, with some elucidation into the genetic relationships among specimens. Some new insights into the ecology of Ocydromia glabricula are provided as well.

barcoding, Empidoidea, Moroccan Protected Areas, new records, Ocydromiinae

Received: 06.03.2026. Revised: 04.05.2026. Accepted: 01.06.2026.

Becker T., Stein P. 1913. Dipteren aus Marokko. Annuaire du Musée zoologique de l'Académie impériale de Sciences de St.-Petersbourg 18: 62–95.

Berezhnova O.N. 2021. New data on the fauna of the family Hybotidae (Diptera: Brachycera) of the Belgorod Province of Russia. Proceedings of the Russian Entomological Society 92: 12–22. [In Russian]

Chvála M. 1983. The Empidoidea (Diptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark. II. General part. The families Hybotidae, Atelestidae and Microphoridae. Fauna entomologica Scandinavica 12: 1–279.

Oboňa J., Beuk P.L.T., Dvořáková K., Dvořák L., Grootaert P., Haenni J.P., Ježek J., Mlynárová L., van der Weele R., Manko P. 2021. Selected Diptera of City Park Kolmanka, Prešov (Slovakia). Acta Musei Silesiae, Scientiae Naturales 70(2): 125–134. DOI: 10.2478/cszma-2021-0010

Sinclair B.J., Cumming J.M. 2017. Hybotidae (hybotid dance flies). In: A.H. Kirk-Spriggs, B.J. Sinclair (Eds.): Manual of Afrotropical Diptera. Vol. 2: Nematocerous Diptera and Lower Brachycera. Pretoria: South African National Biodiversity Institute. P. 1237–1250.

Wahlberg E., Johanson K.A. 2018. Molecular phylogenetics reveals novel relationships within Empidoidea (Diptera). Systematic Entomology 43(4): 619–636. DOI: 10.1111/syen.12297