Phylogeny of the planthopper genus Megamelus (Hemiptera, Delphacidae), with the description of two new species from South America

Megamelus is a genus of Delphacidae widely distributed and mostly associated with plants in freshwater environments. Despite various taxonomic revisions and thorough research, the delimitation of the genus, its diversity, and its evolutionary history need to be further explored. Moreover, features o...

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Main Authors: Nicolas A. Salinas, Roxana Mariani, Ana M. Marino de Remes Lenicov, Marcela S. Rodriguero, Alejandro J. Sosa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pensoft Publishers 2025-01-01
Series:ZooKeys
Online Access:https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/135596/download/pdf/
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author Nicolas A. Salinas
Roxana Mariani
Ana M. Marino de Remes Lenicov
Marcela S. Rodriguero
Alejandro J. Sosa
author_facet Nicolas A. Salinas
Roxana Mariani
Ana M. Marino de Remes Lenicov
Marcela S. Rodriguero
Alejandro J. Sosa
author_sort Nicolas A. Salinas
collection DOAJ
description Megamelus is a genus of Delphacidae widely distributed and mostly associated with plants in freshwater environments. Despite various taxonomic revisions and thorough research, the delimitation of the genus, its diversity, and its evolutionary history need to be further explored. Moreover, features originally considered distinctive of the genus exhibit variation and should be reassessed. Here, the genus Megamelus in South America was examined, describing two new species, Megamelus delticus Remes Lenicov & Mariani, sp. nov. and Megamelus serpentinus Mariani & Remes Lenicov, sp. nov., and providing information on their host plants and geographical distribution. The distribution and host range knowledge of Megamelus iphigeniae and Megamelus timehri are also expanded, the male brachypter of M. timehri described for the first time, and a key to distinguish the species, based on male and female genitalia and their external morphology, is provided. Moreover, the first phylogenetic analysis of the genus is presented, based on the mitochondrial COI gene to clarify the interspecific relationships among its members. Our combined findings support the monophyly of the genus and refine diagnostic features, including the importance of the pygofer’s lobed appearance. This comprehensive revision highlights the need for further multidisciplinary approaches to fully understand the evolutionary history of Megamelus and its interactions with host plants and environments.
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spelling doaj-art-05a542b14db24bc68e3b42fcee3d765a2025-01-23T08:30:43ZengPensoft PublishersZooKeys1313-29702025-01-011224295410.3897/zookeys.1224.135596135596Phylogeny of the planthopper genus Megamelus (Hemiptera, Delphacidae), with the description of two new species from South AmericaNicolas A. Salinas0Roxana Mariani1Ana M. Marino de Remes Lenicov2Marcela S. Rodriguero3Alejandro J. Sosa4Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)Universidad Nacional de La PlataUniversidad Nacional de La PlataInstituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA)Fundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas (FuEDEI)Megamelus is a genus of Delphacidae widely distributed and mostly associated with plants in freshwater environments. Despite various taxonomic revisions and thorough research, the delimitation of the genus, its diversity, and its evolutionary history need to be further explored. Moreover, features originally considered distinctive of the genus exhibit variation and should be reassessed. Here, the genus Megamelus in South America was examined, describing two new species, Megamelus delticus Remes Lenicov & Mariani, sp. nov. and Megamelus serpentinus Mariani & Remes Lenicov, sp. nov., and providing information on their host plants and geographical distribution. The distribution and host range knowledge of Megamelus iphigeniae and Megamelus timehri are also expanded, the male brachypter of M. timehri described for the first time, and a key to distinguish the species, based on male and female genitalia and their external morphology, is provided. Moreover, the first phylogenetic analysis of the genus is presented, based on the mitochondrial COI gene to clarify the interspecific relationships among its members. Our combined findings support the monophyly of the genus and refine diagnostic features, including the importance of the pygofer’s lobed appearance. This comprehensive revision highlights the need for further multidisciplinary approaches to fully understand the evolutionary history of Megamelus and its interactions with host plants and environments.https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/135596/download/pdf/
spellingShingle Nicolas A. Salinas
Roxana Mariani
Ana M. Marino de Remes Lenicov
Marcela S. Rodriguero
Alejandro J. Sosa
Phylogeny of the planthopper genus Megamelus (Hemiptera, Delphacidae), with the description of two new species from South America
ZooKeys
title Phylogeny of the planthopper genus Megamelus (Hemiptera, Delphacidae), with the description of two new species from South America
title_full Phylogeny of the planthopper genus Megamelus (Hemiptera, Delphacidae), with the description of two new species from South America
title_fullStr Phylogeny of the planthopper genus Megamelus (Hemiptera, Delphacidae), with the description of two new species from South America
title_full_unstemmed Phylogeny of the planthopper genus Megamelus (Hemiptera, Delphacidae), with the description of two new species from South America
title_short Phylogeny of the planthopper genus Megamelus (Hemiptera, Delphacidae), with the description of two new species from South America
title_sort phylogeny of the planthopper genus megamelus hemiptera delphacidae with the description of two new species from south america
url https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/135596/download/pdf/
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