POLISH JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY P O L S K I E P I S M O E N T O M O L O G I C Z N E VOL. 80: 587-599 Gdynia 30 September 2011 DOI: 10.2478/v10200-011-0046-8 New data on the Chironomidae (Diptera) of the Rif (Northern Morocco) KAWTAR KETTANI 1 , PETER H. LANGTON 2 1 Université Abdelmalek Essaadi, Faculté des Sciences, Laboratoire Diversité et Conservation des Systèmes Biologiques, Tétouan, Maroc (Morocco)*; 2 University Museum of Zoology Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, U.K *Address for correspondence: Kettani.ka@gmail.com ABSTRACT. New collections of pupal exuviae of chironomids in various fresh water ecosystems in the Rif in the north of Morocco revealed an interesting inventory. The chironomid community collected is diverse enough and interesting, and rare species are present. Of a total of 141 identified taxa, 46 species have proved to be new for the Rif and 31 for Morocco. The chorological tendency is mainly Palaearctic and Mediterranean. The majority of the sites investigated belong to protected areas in the north of Morocco, such as SIBE Jbel Moussa, SIBE Jbel Tidirrhine, SIBE Jbel Bouhachem and Talassemtane National Park, which belong to the Intercontinental Reserve of the Mediterranean Biosphere. KEY WORDS: Chironomidae, Mediterranean mountain streams, Intercontinental Reserve of Biosphere of Mediterranean, Rif, Morocco. INTRODUCTION Within the framework of the study of Diptera biodiversity of fresh water of the Western Rif and central Morocco, hydrobiological investigations were carried out in various aquatic habitats from running water to stagnant water and from the high summits of mountains to the foothills with the aim of recording chironomid diversity in terms of taxonomic, biogeographic and ecological specificity and also in terms of endemism and scarcity relative to this strategic geographical area situated between Europe and Africa.