CLADISTIC-ANALYSIS OF NEARCTIC DELTOCEPHALUS-LIKE LEAFHOPPERS (HOMOPTERA, CICADELLIDAE) USING MORPHOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR-DATA

The Deltocephalus-like leafhoppers form a group of genera that share a linear connective fused with the aedeagus. A cladistic analysis of 25 Nearctic Deltocephalus-like leafhopper genera was conducted based on 76 adult morphological characters. Outgroup genera include seven Delto cephalinae that have a linear connective articulated with the aedeagus (group 2); two Deltocephalinae with a Y-shaped aedeagus articulated w ith the aedeagus (group 3); and one genus of a related tribe, Macroste lini. Results indicate that the Deltocephalus-like leafhoppers are mon ophyletic, even though the fusion of the connective with die aedeagus evolved more than once. A series of possible phylogenies is presented.