The Fast Evolution of the Stenobothrini Grasshoppers (Orthoptera, Acrididae, and Gomphocerinae) Revealed by an Analysis of the Control Region of mtDNA, with an Emphasis on the Stenobothrus eurasius Group

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Abstract
The two cryptic grasshopper species of the genus Stenobothrus, S. eurasius and S. hyalosuperficies, demonstrate different acoustic behavior despite a strong similarity in morphology. A hybridization between these species is possible in the contact zone; however, there are little molecular data about the relationships of these species. The analysis of the mtDNA control region (CR) reveals that haplotypes of S. hyalosuperficies have more in common with the more distant Stenobothrus species than with the closely related S. eurasius. In the contact zone, S. eurasius has mt-haplotypes shared with S. hyalosuperficies, which might indicate an introgression of mtDNA from S. hyalosuperficies to the S. eurasius gene pool. We also analyze the structure and evolutionary rate of the mtDNA CR for the Stenobothrus genus and estimate the time of divergence of the species within the genus. The phylogenetic tree of the tribe Stenobothrini reconstructed with either the CR or COI gave the same four groups. The phylogenetic tree of the Stenobothrus genus has a star-like topology with each mtDNA haplotype found in any analyzed species, except S. eurasius, which forms a separate branch. The maximum degree of incomplete lineage sorting can demonstrate either ancestral polymorphism or introgression.
Funding Information
  • Russian Science Foundation (23-24-00533)

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