Molecular systematics and species revision of a Neotropical genus of flightless phaneropterine katydids (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae)

The Phaneropterinae subfamily represents the most diverse group of katydids, typically characterized by long, leaf-like wings. However, flightlessness has evolved independently in some taxa, such as in the short-winged Odonturini and Barbitistini. The phylogenetic relationships within the Neotropical taxa of flightless katydids have not yet been studied. Here, we present a phylogenetic analysis based on DNA sequences from six molecular markers for the short-winged katydid genus Xenicola (Odonturini). Our phylogenetic reconstruction relies on a matrix of 38 taxa and 3885 aligned nucleotides. We recover Xenicola as paraphyletic, with the genus Angara nested within it. To base our classification on a monophyletic lineage, we synonymize Xenicola under Angara owing to the precedence of names. The genus comprises two lineages, one distributed mainly in the Inland Atlantic Forest and the other in the Coastal Atlantic Forest. Notably, one Angara lineage exhibits unique adaptations for camouflaging with mosses. Additionally, we identify and describe four new species from southern Brazil based on morphological characters: Angara caayari sp. nov., Angara flavolineata sp. nov., Angaranigrocercata sp. nov., and Angara rubra sp. nov. We also provide an identification key, illustrations, and distribution maps for all Angara species.