Mitogenomics provide insights into the tribe-level systematics and historical phylogeography of band-winged grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Oedipodinae).

Abstract

Oedipodinae (Acrididae) is a species-rich and globally distributed subfamily of grasshoppers, currently comprising 807 valid species assigned to 138 genera in 16 tribes. Resolving the phylogeny of Oedipodinae has proven difficult, owing to their extensive species diversity, disjunct geographic distribution and the scarcity of informative molecular markers. To establish a more robust phylogenetic framework, we conducted a mitochondrial phylogenomic analysis of 143 mitogenomes. This dataset includes 103 Oedipodinae species representing all 16 currently recognized tribes, of which 86 mitogenomes from nine tribes were newly sequenced in this study. Divergence times and ancestral areas were also inferred to investigate evolutionary trends within this subfamily. The phylogenetic analysis supports the monophyly of nine tribes within Oedipodinae: Acrotylini, Anconiini, Bryodemini, Chortophagini, Machaerocerini, Psinidiini, Trilophidiini, Trimerotropini and Tropidolophini. Based on these results, we propose taxonomic revisions. The tribe Tropidolophini Otte, 1995 is removed from Oedipodinae and provisionally placed in Acrididae, incertae sedis. In addition, the genus Ceracris Walker, 1870 is removed from Parapleurini and placed in Acridinae, incerta sedis. Divergence time estimation suggests that Oedipodinae originated during the Eocene, approximately 49 Mya. The biogeographic reconstruction supports a Holarctic origin of Oedipodinae, with the Palaearctic region as the principal center of diversification, followed by subsequent dispersal into North America, the Oriental region and Africa. These patterns highlight the role of dispersal in shaping the global distribution of the subfamily.