Family-level relationships of the spittlebugs and froghoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha: Cercopoidea)

Abstract

The spittlebug superfamily Cercopoidea (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha) comprises approximately 3000 phytophagous species (including some economically important pests of grass crops) classified among the families Cercopidae, Aphrophoridae, Epipygidae, Clastopteridae and Machaerotidae. However, the monophyly of these taxa has never been tested and the evolutionary relationships among these major lineages are unknown. Presented here are the results of the first ever phylogenetic investigation of the higher‐level relationships within Cercopoidea, based on DNA nucleotide sequence data from six loci (18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, histone 3, wingless, cytochrome oxidase I and cytochrome oxidase II) generated from exemplars of 109 spittlebug species representing all five described families, seven of eight subfamilies and 61 genera (eight additional exemplars, representing a selection of other Auchenorrhyncha taxa, were included as outgroups). The resulting topologies are used to evaluate the monophyly of each cercopoid family, and further to calculate divergence date estimates to examine the chronological origins and historical diversification of Cercopoidea. The results of this investigation suggest that: (i) four of the five described families are monophyletic; Epipygidae was recovered consistently as originating within Aphrophoridae; (ii) the exclusively Old World Machaerotidae is the most anciently diversified family of extant spittlebugs; (iii) New World Cercopidae (i.e. Ischnorhininae) constitute a derived monophyletic lineage; (iv) the genus Microsargane Fowler, classified currently within Aphrophoridae, actually belongs within Cercopidae; and (v) the origins of the major spittlebug lineages probably coincided with the breakup of Pangaea and, subsequently, Gondwana, as well as major floristic diversification such as the rise of angiosperms.

Morphology of the mouthparts of the spittlebug Philagra albinotata Uhler (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea: Aphrophoridae)

“…The superfamily has been classified into five families: Cercopidae, Aphrophoridae, Clastopteridae, Machaerotidae and Epipygidae (Cryan and Svenson, 2010). Adults feed on the leaves and stems of a variety of plants by inserting their maxillary stylets into the xylem elements and suck the sap (Leopold et al, 2003).…”

Morphology and Ultrastructure of the Salivary Glands of the SpittlebugLepyronia coleopterata(L.) (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae)

“…The superfamily Cercopoidea (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha) comprises approximately 3000 described species in 340 genera worldwide (Cryan and Svenson, 2010). This group is well known to include spittlebugs, froghoppers, or cuckoospit insects.…”

Forever Love: The Hitherto Earliest Record of Copulating Insects from the Middle Jurassic of China

“…The copulating pair exhibit belly-to-belly mating position as preserved. However, due to the potential taphonomic effect, we cannot rule out that they might have taken a side-by-side position when alive, as do extant froghopper taxa[1], [6], [20].…”

“…Froghoppers get their name because the adults hop around on plants and shrubs like tiny frogs. The nymphs of froghoppers are called spittlebugs because they cover themselves with foaming spittle, composed of tiny air bubbles trapped in secretions from their Malpighian tubules, which provides protection from predation, parasitism and desiccation[6]. This discovery of the earliest record of copulating insects hitherto sheds light on the evolution of mating behavior in this group of insects.…”