Evolution and speciation of cave-dwelling Fulgoroidea in the Canary Islands (Homoptera: Cixiidae and Meenoplidae)

Abstract

Ten new cavernicolous Fulgoroidea species of the families Cixiidae and Meenoplidae are described from the Canary Islands: Cixius palmeros, C. pinarcoladus, C. ratonicus, C. tacandus, Memoplus claustrophilus from La Palma, C. ariadne, C. nycticolus, M. charon from El Hierro, and Tachycixius crypticus, T. retrusus from Tenerife. Notes on their ecology and distribution are given, and where possible, phylogenetic affinities to existing epigean species of the corresponding families are discussed. Despite the present-day relict status of the majority of cavernicolous species, it cannot be concluded with certainty whether their evolution has followed allopatric or parapatric modes of speciation.