TABLE 1. Discriminatory matrix for the Maghrebian Limnephilus larvae (final instars); references for larval characters (Hickin 1943; Cianficconi & Salerno 2003; Waringer & Graf 2011; Rinne & Wiberg-Larsen 2017; Waringer & Malicky 2019).

Species	Face setae present or absent on mid- and/or hind femora	Head with pale areas around frontoclypeus	Setae number on each metanotum anterior median setal area (sa1)	Anal slit bordered by setae	Case composition	Case curved or straight	Additional characters
Mesophylax aspersus	Present	No	4–6	No	Small sand grains	Curved	No pale areas
Limnephilus alaicus	Present	No	N/a	N/a	Small sand grains and small plant particles	Straight	Pale areas of frontoclypeus all located between frontoclypeal sutures
Limnephilus barbagaensis	Absent	Yes	4–6	No	Small sand grains and/or gastropod shells	Nearly straight	Pale areas narrow, located mostly at posterior apex between frontoclypeal sutures
Limnephilus hirsutus	Present	No	16–24 (sa1 areas fused)	Yes	Small sand grains	Curved	Head capsule uniformly dark. Anterior median sclerites (sa 1 sclerites) of metanotum poorly defined
Limnephilus lunatus	Absent	Yes	5–11	No	Plant material mostly; small sand grains occasionally	Straight	Pale areas distributed evenly along frontoclypeal sutures and varying from wide to very narrow
Limnephilus marmoratus	Present	No	4–6	N/a	Coarse plant material	Straight	Frontoclypeus with sharply angled median incisions. Claws of mid- and hindlegs at least half as long as tarsi