Azorastia gemmae Carles-Tolrá, 1994

Maamri, Hajar, Ebejer, Martin J. & Kettani, Kawtar, 2025, First records and the habitats of Nannodastiidae and Xenasteiidae Diptera) from Morocco, Journal of Natural History 59 (33 - 36), pp. 2109-2126 : 2111

Azorastia gemmae Carles-Tolrá

(Figure 2)

Material examined

1 male, Central Rif , Isly Beach (S2), 7 m, 6 September 2022; 1 male, Eastern Rif , Red Beach (S6), September 2023; 2 males, Central Rif, Isly Beach (S2), 7 m, 29 September 2023 .

Distribution

Found in Spain, Balearic Isles ( Carles-Tolrá 1994). First record from Morocco.

Ecology

This species was collected from two distinct coastal habitats. First are the rocky formations of Isly ( Figure 3 ) located in Al Hoceima in the central Rif, which host a diverse range of algal species, Asparagopsis armata , Corallina mediterranea , Jania rubens and Hypnea musciformis . The second represented by the wrack line at Red Beach ( Figure 4 ), located in north-eastern Morocco, a composed of Taonia atomaria , Corallina officinalis , Halopithys incurva and Ceramium secundatum nutrient-rich environments, often enriched with seabird guano and decaying algae, support a community of saprophagous arthropods.

Figures

Figure 3. Rocks of Isly Beach (Photo: H. Maamri, 29 September 2023).

Figure 4. Wrack line of Red Beach (Photo: H. Maamri, 24 September 2023).