Cryptic diversity and biogeography of ice-crawlers (Grylloblattidae) in California and Asia

Ice-crawlers and rock-crawlers (Grylloblattodea: Grylloblattidae) are low vagility insects that are restricted to cool temperate forests and mountainous regions of western North America and northeastern Asia. Morphologically distinguishable species are similar ecologically and show narrow endemism and a patchy distribution in both continents. I use multi-locus genetic data to examine the phylogenetic diversity and relationships of Californian and Asian grylloblattids, and employ likelihood models to estimate the geographic pattern of diversification in both regions. My analysis reveals extensive cryptic diversity in both regions, underlying a rich biogeographic history. Using Bayesian relaxed clock models, I relate the temporal pattern of genetic divergence to geological and climatic events in both geographic regions.