Phylogenomics of Derbidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) and implications for the higher classification and evolutionary history of the family

Derbidae is one of the most species‐rich and morphologically diverse families of Fulgoromorpha, but its higher‐level classification and the evolutionary history of its major lineages remain poorly resolved. Here we present a comprehensive phylogenomic analysis of Derbidae based on whole‐genome sequencing data, from which 335–1153 universal single‐copy orthologues (USCOs) were recovered for 49 representative species spanning three traditional subfamilies and 11 tribes. Phylogenetic analyses using both concatenation and coalescent‐based approaches recovered broadly congruent relationships among the major lineages. Although three principal clades were strongly supported, the positions of several early‐diverging lineages were sensitive to data type and inference method. Our results do not support the monophyly of the traditionally recognized Breddiniolinae, Derbinae and Otiocerinae, nor that of Cenchreini, indicating that long‐standing assumptions based on morphological character evolution require re‐evaluation. On the basis of the molecular phylogeny and a reassessment of diagnostic morphological characters, we propose a revised higher classification of Derbidae. We resurrect Cenchreinae stat. rev . and Rhotaninae stat. rev . The monophyly of Zoraidini sensu lato was not stable across analyses, and Lyddina and Eocenchreina are treated as distinctive lineages whose possible recognition at tribal rank requires further sampling. Kamendakini is treated as a junior synonym of Otiocerini ( syn. nov .). Fossil‐calibrated divergence‐time estimation suggests the Late Triassic crown‐group origin of Derbidae, followed by extensive diversification of the principal lineages during the Jurassic and Cretaceous. This study provides a phylogenomic framework for interpreting the evolution of Derbidae and for future taxonomic revision of the family.