Distributional patterns and possible origins of the tribes and genera of Coelidiinae (Homoptera, Membracoidea, Cicadellidae)

Abstract

Leafhoppers are well known biological indicators of zoogeographical regions owing, in part, to their phytodependency, high host plant specificity and relatively low vagility. In this connection, we discuss distributional patterns and possible zoogeographical origins of nine constituent tribes and their genera of the pantropical subfamily Coelidiinae. Among 118 known genera, only eight currently occupy more than one zoogeographical region, indicating an extremely high endemic profile which supports the proposed centers of origin and relatively low rate of intercontinental dispersal. The pantropical tribe Coelidiini is suggested as the basal group of the subfamily which is believed to have arisen prior to continental drift (late Jurassic-early Cretaceous) because there appears to be no other evidence at the present time to explain its near cosmopolitan distribution. Possible origins of three Old World tribes, Hikangiini (Ethiopian), Thagriini (Oriental) and Thanini (Australian) and four New World -(Neotropical) tribes, Teruliini, Tinobregmini, Gabritini and Sandersellini are elucidated. The tribe Youngolidiini occupies the Neotropical and Ethiopian realms but its origin is problematical. There appears to be ample evidence that origin/dispersal patterns are related to the geological history of the areas occupied by its faunal members

Centers of endemism and diversity patterns for typhlocybine leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae) in China

“…Leafhoppers are excellent biological indicators of zoogeographical regions and prime models for biogeography studies due to their high generic endemism (Nielson & Knight, ). Only a few prior studies have used their distribution to focus on the historical biogeography at a higher taxon to explore the origin of the group (Nielson & Knight, ; Nielson et al ., ; Yuan et al ., ). However, the patterns of diversity and distribution related to ecological biogeography, on a broad scale, are still unknown.…”

Phylogenetic analysis of the leafhopper genus Apogonalia (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) and comments on the biogeography of the Caribbean islands

“…Concerning the Cicadellidae, Nielson & Knight (2000) and Nielson et al . (2000) suggested that the Proto‐Antilles movement isolated ancestors of extant genera of the Cicadellinae, Coelidiinae, and Agalliinae.…”

“…Several Auchenorrhyncha families have genera with endemic representatives in the Antilles (Ramos, 1988; Nielson & Knight, 2000; Nielson, Knight & Zhang, 2000). About 81% of the Cicadellinae species occurring in the Greater Antilles are endemic (Ramos, 1988).…”