The phylogeny and revised classification of M achaerotidae, the tube‐making spittlebugs ( H emiptera: A uchenorrhyncha: C ercopoidea)

Machaerotidae ( H emiptera: A uchenorrhyncha: C ercopoidea) is a taxonomically small but morphologically diverse family of spittlebugs with approximately 115 described species in 31 genera and an exclusively P alaeotropical distribution. Results are presented of the first molecular phylogenetic investigation of M achaerotidae, examining relationships among the currently recognized subfamilies and tribes, as well as determining the phylogenetic placement of the genera Enderleinia Schmidt, Neuromachaerota Schmidt, Labramachaerota B ell & C ryan, and Kyphomachaerota B ell & C ryan. DNA nucleotide sequence data from eight loci ( 12s rDNA , 16s rDNA , 18S rDNA , 28S rDNA , histone 2A , histone 3 , wingless and NADH D ehydrogenase subunit 4) were analysed to reconstruct the phylogeny. The evidence generated in this study supports the following systematic conclusions: (i) M achaerotidae is a monophyletic family; (ii) M achaerotini, H indoloidini (with the new inclusion of Kyphomachaerota ), and E nderleiniini (excluding Kyphomachaerota and Apomachaerota S chmidt) are monophyletic tribes; (iii) the genus Apomachaerota was recovered as the most anciently diverged lineage of extant M achaerotidae, and a new subfamily ( A pomachaerotinae subfam.n. ), is proposed on the basis of its phylogenetic placement as sister lineage to all other extant M achaerotidae.