A molecular phylogeny of the family Tettigoniidae (Orthoptera: Ensifera)

Tettigoniidae contains over 6000 species making it the second largest family within Orthoptera. Previous research on Tettigoniidae has primarily focused on acoustic communication, effects on agriculture, sexual selection and the complex camouflage seen in many species. Although much attention has been given to tettigoniid ecology, little is known about the phylogenetic relationships among major lineages within this family. Previous studies have partially addressed tettigoniid relationships, but a lack of robust taxon sampling or formal analyses have left many questions unanswered. Using four loci (18S, 28S, Wingless, and H3) we have reconstructed a robust molecular phylogeny of Tettigoniidae. Based on the resulting phylogeny, we test the monophyly of major tettigoniid subfamilies and study the evolutionary relationships amongst these groups. The resulting phylogeny also forms a basis for investigating the multiple shifts in dietary preference seen in katydids.