Phylogenetic patterns of mimicry strategies in Darnini (Hemiptera: Membracidae)

A phylogenetic analysis based on 58 morphological characters including 18 species representing 14 genera over the 15 currently known in Darnini (Hemiptera: Membracidae) confirms the monophyly of this tribe. This result is particularly supported by the presence of cucullate setae on the ventral side of the femora. Two sister clades are inferred: the clade Funkhouseriana+ which groups four genera (Aspona, Cyphotes, Funkhouseriana, Taunaya) and exhibits a ‘bird dropping’ habitus and all other genera which exhibit a ‘dewdrop’ like habitus (Alobia, Darnis, Dectonura, Hebetica, Hebeticoides, Leptosticta, Ochrolomia, Stictopelta) or a ‘thorny’ habitus (Alcmeone, Sundarion). In the ‘dewdrop’ habitus, only the clade Ochrolomia+ is retained as a monophyletic unit. According to these results, pronotal shapes and habitus have evolved independently in each monophyletic unit and each one seems correlated with a particular type of mimicry strategy. According to the strategy, characters involved are different, a priori independent; moreover, they look coordinated regarding to the mimicry function they serve. The various evolutionary scenarios are discussed in relation to the phylogeny, and particularly in correlation with the non-gregarious behavior of these membracids, also coherent with their mimicry strategy.