Checklist of terrestrial beetles (Arthropoda, Insecta, Coleoptera) associated with agroecosystems in North-West Morocco

Study Extent

The study was conducted at 5 stations in the region of Sidi Kacem (34° 13' 00" N, 5° 42' 00" W) in the north-west of Morocco (fig. 1): station 1: 34° 12' 35.5" N - 5° 42' 31.8" W: a bean field (Vicia faba L., Fabaceae), characterized by a silty clay soil; station 2: 34° 14' 41.5" N - 5° 42' 14.9" W: a field of cereal crops (soft wheat: Triticum aestivum L., Poaceae), characterized by a silty clay soil; station 3: 34° 13' 50.5" N - 5° 42' 14.7"W: natural steppe. The plant species that dominate the area are: Nicotiana glauca Graham (Solanaceae), Ferula communis L. (Apiaceae), Cynara humilis L. (Asteraceae), and Ammi visnaga (L.) Lam. (Apiaceae). Again, the soil here is a silty clay; station 4: 34° 15' 19.1" N - 5° 44' 01.3" W: alfalfa field (Medicago sativa L., Fabaceae) and a wasteland dominated mainly by Dittrichia viscosa (L.) Greuter (Asteraceae). This station has sandy, clay loamy soil; station 5: 34° 11' 12.5" N - 5° 42' 32.8" W: matorral, characterized by a clay soil. The plant species that dominate the area are: Chamaerops humilis L. (Arecaceae), Eucalyptus sp. (Myrtaceae), Olea europaea L. (Oleaceae) and Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. (Cactaceae).

Sampling

Three sampling techniques were used: Barber traps (consisting of 10 cm diameter and 17 cm high pots), sight hunting, and sweep nets. Beetles were collected between March 2019 and September 2020.

Quality Control

The captured specimens were identified and labeled following maximum magnification of x35 and standard identification keys, including French carabid fauna (Jeannel, 1941-1942) and Moroccan carabid beetles (Antoine, 1955-1962).

Method steps

1. For validation, we consulted Antoine's collection at the Scientific Institute of Rabat (Morocco) and the collections of the National Museum of Natural History of Paris (France). Subfamily, tribe, and species are listed. All the species are listed with their valid names, correct spelling, author, and year of description.

The study was conducted at 5 stations in the region of Sidi Kacem (34° 13' 00" N, 5° 42' 00" W) in the north-west of Morocco