Monday, December 10, 2007 - 9:41 AM
0261

A phylogeny of the leafhopper genus Flexamia (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) constructed with morphological and molecular characters

Therese A. Catanach, tacatanach@tamu.edu, Texas A&M University, Department of Entomology, TAMU 2475, Heep Center, College Station, TX, Chris H. Dietrich, dietrich@inhs.uiuc.edu, Illinois Natural History Survey, Center for Biodiversity, 1816 S Oak St, Champaign, IL, Robert F. Whitcomb, whitcomb@dakotacom.net, Retired, 78 Adobe Canyon Rd, Sonoita, AZ, and James B. Woolley, jimwoolley@tamu.edu, Texas A&M University, Entomology, Heep Center, College Station, TX.

Flexamia (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is a diverse and broadly distributed genus of North American grass-specialist leafhoppers. Published phylogenies have been based on either morphological or molecular data, but no single study has included both. Data from previous studies were re-analyzed using parsimony in both PAUP and TNT. Combined analysis of morphological data and two mitochondrial gene sequences, 16S and NADH dehydrogenase 1, supported the monophyly of Flexamia. Some species groups proposed by Whitcomb and Hicks based on morphology and host associations were found to be polyphyletic while others are well supported. Overall, constructed phylogenies partially agree with previous phylogenies although there are some major differences.