Wing Patterns of Diversification: Phylogeny and Biogeography Reveal the Evolutionary History of the Raspy Cricket Genus Homogryllacris (Orthoptera: Gryllacrididae)

ABSTRACT The genus Homogryllacris Liu, 2007, with its diverse wing forms, represents a unique group within the family Gryllacrididae. Although significant progress has been made in understanding its species diversity in recent years, several problems remain unresolved. In this study, species delimitation was conducted using four molecular methods based on the mitochondrial COI gene fragment. Phylogenetic analysis, biogeographical and wing‐form evolution studies were performed using three mitochondrial genes ( COI , 16S rRNA and Cytb ) and two nuclear genes ( 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA ). Key findings include: (I) Species delimitation identified 19 valid species, including one new species, Homogryllacris eremna Duan, Duan & Shi sp. n., with Homogryllacris unicolor Lu, Zhang and Bian, 2022 syn. n. proposed as a synonym of Homogryllacris anelytra Shi, Guo and Bian, 2012; (II) The monophyly of this genus has been conclusively demonstrated, while our results reveal that wingforms and geographic distribution may not reliably reflect interspecific phylogenetic relationships; (III) The genus likely originated in the late Oligocene in the Yunnan‐Guizhou Plateau and Southern Yunnan, with early lineage divergence potentially driven by activity of the Red River fault zone. Geographic isolation and Miocene climate changes jointly promoted lineage diversification, with the Yunnan‐Guizhou Plateau and Southern Yunnan region serving as the center of differentiation and distribution; (IV) The ancestor of this genus was macropterous, with micropterous or brachypterous forms having evolved independently multiple times. Stable and favourable living conditions in the Miocene were likely the driving factors behind wing reduction in species of this genus.