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Our study focuses on the origin, dispersal patterns, evolutionary strategies and systematics of Poecilimon, the largest bush-cricket genus in the Palaearctic with over 150 taxa described. We employ phylogenetic and divergence time estimation analyses based on multilocus sequence data (ND2 + COI + 12 S + 16 S + ITS+28 S), perform ancestral area reconstruction, and track the evolution of behavioural (evolution of sound communication) and morpho-physiological traits (body size and shape, and spermatophore size) in this genus. Based on our results, we propose a revised systematics of Poecilimon, including description of a new species, P. nivalis sp. n., and hypothesize three stages in the evolution of Poecilimon. (1) In the early evolution of the genus in Tortonian, when open dry habitats appeared in the Eastern Mediterranean, diversification rates were low and speciation was possibly induced by vicariance and habitat fragmentation; physiology and morphology during this period retained their ancestral states but the evolution of main lineages may have been accompanied by behavioural specializations. (2) Climate cooling and aridification during the Messinian induced dispersals and adaptation to new habitats, followed by physiological and behavioural adaptations; major clades formed or started diversifying. (3) Starting at the end of Messinian and continuing through the Plio- and Pleistocene, a few dispersal events from Anatolia to the Balkans took place and climatic oscillations were followed by allo- and parapatric divergence of habitat specialists, while ecological adaptations enhanced song diversity and led to morpho-physiological changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species of Sinocyrtaspis Liu inhabit moist montane environments in south China, and occur allopatrically in restricted regions without overlapping areas. This study presents the first phylogeny of Sinocyrtaspis based on one nuclear DNA sequence [partial ITS1‐5.8S rDNA‐ITS2 (ITS)] as well as two mitochondrial genes [cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and cytochrome b (CYTB)] using Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood. In addition, reconstructing the ancestral geographical range on the basis of the combined genes and distribution information, MaxEnt modelling was used to predict potential distribution areas in the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), the mid‐Holocene, the present‐day and in the year 2070, in order to understand speciation processes and responses to climate change in this genus. The phylogenetic analyses supported the monophyly of Sinocyrtaspis. The results of species delimitation confirmed seven Sinocyrtaspis species and that the speciation events mainly occurred in the late Miocene to early Pliocene when the climate became colder and drier. The conclusions of the phylogeographical analysis are as follows: (i) the centres of origin of Sinocyrtaspis were Hunan and north‐east Guangxi; (ii) two dispersal routes became obvious with the final destinations of Jiangxi and Zhejiang, respectively; (iii) after the Miocene cooling period, the ancestor species partly remained in Guizhou and partly spread; (iv) as a response to climate change, species altered distribution areas by moving along altitude gradients in mountain regions, whereas the anthropogenic global warming trend has promoted some species moving to high‐latitude areas or caused population differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This is the first study to address the molecular phylogeny of East African Meconematinae. We used DNA sequence data from the three genes cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI), 16S rRNA and histone H3 to reconstruct the relationships within the genus Amytta using Bayesian Inference and maximum likelihood. We included 45 individuals representing 19 Meconematinae taxa from Africa, Europe and Australia, and three outgroup species to explore taxonomic limits at different levels. Members of the genus Amytta belong to three related lineages within Meconematinae. Species of Amytta were found to be monophyletic with Meconema and Phlugidia as sister groups. The molecular results are in accordance with previous morphological and ecological studies. Chromosome numbers and the type of sex determination systems found in Amytta agrees with the three lineages also found in the phylogenetic tree. We conclude that the radiation of Amytta species is geological young. Biogeographical patterns caused by climatic fluctuations of the past seen also in other nonrelated Orthoptera taxa such as the coptacrine genus Parepistaurus are the drivers of biodiversity in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new genera, Fulvoscirtes n.gen. and Acanthoscirtes n.gen., are established within the subtribe Karniellina of Conocephalini. Fulvoscirtes is based on Xiphidion kilimandjaricumSjöstedt, 1909 and Acanthoscirtes on Phlesirtes kevani Chopard from northern Kenya. The majority of Fulvoscirtes spp. are confined to open grasslands in the submontane zone of mountains. Fulvoscirtes contains eight species, seven of which are newly described in this paper. Three species and one subspecies occur on Mt Kilimanjaro. These are F. kilimandjaricum (Sjöstedt) constricted to the southern slopes, F. legumishera n.sp. confined to the northern side and F. sylvaticus n.sp. occurring on the western side of Kilimanjaro and on the eastern slopes of Mt Meru. Fulvoscirtes fulvus n.sp. is divided into two subspecies, F. fulvus fulvus n.ssp. found in the submontane zone of east Kilimanjaro and F. fulvus parensis n.ssp. in submontane to montane localities of the North and South Pare mountains. Fulvoscirtes fulvotaitensis n.sp. occurs in the Taita Hills of southern Kenya. Fulvoscirtes viridis n.sp. is described from savannah habitats between Mts Longido and Meru. Fulvoscirtes laticercus n.sp. is found in the Kenyan highlands, while the most southerly occurring species, Fulvoscirtes manyara n.sp., is found on Mt Hanang and the Mbulu highlands of northwestern Tanzania. Acanthoscirtes contains three species, of which A. albostriatus n.sp. is described newly from savannah habitas of eastern Kilimanjaro. Information is given on the ecology and the acoustic behaviour of some of the species together with keys to the genera of the Karniellina and the species of Fulvoscirtes and Acanthoscirtes. The genera of Karniellina probably evolved at a time when grasslands spread in East Africa due to an increasing aridification of the climate. The earliest lineage, the genus Karniella, is adapted to more forested habitats while the majority of the genera of Karniellina prefer open grasslands. Major splits within Karniellina probably occurred with the emergence of savannah grasslands due to the ongoing fragmentation of forest habitats several millions years ago, but most species within the genera are geologically young, their radiation being boosted by climatic fluctuations of the past 1-2 Ma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the systematics and biogeography of the Mediterranean biota have received much attention. This paper deals with Eupholidoptera Mařan, a Mediterranean lineage of Tettigoniidae. The genus is restricted to the northern and eastern basin of the Mediterranean, with a significant number of species found on the Aegean islands. To produce a phylogeny and use it to make assumptions about the historical biogeography of Eupholidoptera, material of 46 species from several collections was studied. A phylogenetic analysis based mainly on morphological characters suggested two lineages in the genus: the E. chabrieri and the E. prasina groups. Based on the consistency between historical geographical events and branching events on the phylogenetic tree, Eupholidoptera is assumed to have evolved from an ancestor present in the Aegeid plate in the Mid-Miocene. The division of the Aegeid plate into Anatolia and Greece in the Tortonian, the reoccurrence of terrestrial corridors between these mainlands in the Messinian, the regression of the Aegean area in the Pliocene and sea level changes in the Pleistocene are assumed to have been the main palaeogeographical events directing speciation in Eupholidoptera. As most of the species are allopatric, vicariance is suggested to be the main pattern. By combining the nature of the characters used in the phylogenetic analysis, the phylogenetic tree produced and the biogeographical assumptions, four tentative conclusions can be made: (i) radiation in the genus is a result of divergence in morphology; (ii) because the main character source is male genitalia, there has possibly been intensive sexual selection, which leads to morphological speciation; (iii) as the difference in temporal parameters of the song is prominent in sympatric/parapatric species pairs only, co-occurrence is suggested to be the main reason driving divergence in the song; (iv) there seems to be a negative correlation between the size of the distribution range and the evolutionary rate in speciation; this may be the reason why the E. prasina group (restricted to a small part of the range of the genus) is more diverse than the E. chabrieri group, which is distributed over the entire range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tettigoniid genus Phlesirtes Bolivar and its allies are reviewed. Morphological, ecological and molecular data prompt the erection of the new genus Chortoscirtes gen.n. with type species Xiphidion meruense Sjöstedt. The genera Phlesirtes, Chortoscirtes, Karniella and Naskreckiella are characterized by morphological characters supported by molecular, acoustic, ecological and chromosomal data. Four species, Chortoscirtes pseudomeruensis sp.n., C. masaicus sp.n., C. puguensis sp.n. and C. serengeti sp.n., are described from localities in northern and coastal Tanzania and one Karniella, K. crassicerca sp.n., is described from Uganda. The following comb n. are proposed: Phlesirtes kibonotensis (Sjöstedt) and Phlesirtes kilimandjaricus (Sjöstedt). Subtribal status is proposed for the four investigated African genera. A key to the Chortoscirtes species is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melanoscirtes gen.n. is established within Karniellina. The members of this subtribe are small conocephaline bush crickets, confined to Africa. Melanoscirtes is erected on Phlesirtes kibonotensis, a species restricted to forest clearings and forest edge in the submontane and montane zones of Mt. Kilimanjaro. A subspecies, M. kibonotensis uguenoensis, is described from the North Pare mountains, a mountain range of the Eastern Arc adjacent to Mt. Kilimanjaro. Further species of Melanoscirtes occur on other mountain ranges of the northern branch of the Eastern Arc mountains of northern Tanzania and southern Kenya. The South Pare mountains harbour M. shengenae; the West Usambaras, M. usambarensis, and the Taita Hills, M. taitensis. All species and subspecies of Melanoscirtes exhibit a similar morphology and occupy analogous habitats on the respective mountains. The song patterns for all species found within this genus are very similar, and this, together with evidence from molecular data, suggests that allopatric speciation is the reason for the biogeographic pattern found in this genus. A key for the subspecies and species of Melanoscirtes is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]