Phylogeny, biogeography, and diversification of the cicada Pomponia linearis and its allies (Hemiptera: Cicadidae)

Abstract

The taxonomically chaotic Asian genus Pomponia is one of the more species-rich genera in Cicadidae, with multiple species groups and species complexes. To help understand the evolution of Pomponia, establish a time frame, and define species, we studied morphology and conducted molecular phylogenetic and phylogeographical analyses of 394 individuals belonging to the Pomponia linearis species group and relatives using five or six genes, respectively. The most widely distributed species of Pomponia is confirmed to be P. linearis; Pomponia yayeyamanasyn. n. is recognized to be a junior synonym of P. linearis; Pomponia backanensissyn. n. is recognized to be a junior synonym of Pomponia subtilita; and six species are new to science. The phylogeny of Pomponia and related genera does not support the monophyly of Psithyristriini. The ancestor of the P. linearis species group is presumed to have originated from Hengduan Mountains and Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau at ~5.41 Mya and initially diversified during the Mid-Pliocene to Early Pleistocene. P. linearis comprises five subclades corresponding to geographically isolated populations. Dramatic Pleistocene climatic oscillations and niche vicariance were presumably the main drivers for the diversification of P. linearis and allies. This study improves understanding of the diversification, phylogeny, and dispersal history of cicadas in Eastern Asia.