Why cave planthoppers study matters: are Cixiidae a subtroglophile lineage? (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha)

By

Le Cesne, Maxime
Hoch, Hannelore
Zhang, Yalin
Bourgoin, Thierry, 1956-

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2024

Original Publication

Subterranean Biology

Volume

48

Pages

147--170

Subjects

cave , cavernicoly , hypogean , Kinnaridae , Meenoplidae , subterranean

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.48.117086

 

Abstract

Planthoppers are an interesting and contrasting model among insects for studying the subterranean environments. Their morphological and ethological adaptations to the underground conditions (complete darkness, lower temperatures, high hygrometry, stability of environmental constants, rarefied food sources, etc.), and their worldwide distribution in both temperate and tropical areas make them an interesting model among invertebrates. In this review, we highlight why cave planthoppers study matters, with particular emphasis on the Cixiidae. The two hypotheses proposed, the ‘climatic relict hypothesis’ and the ‘adaptive shift’, are not sufficient enough to clearly understand and explain the drivers to cavernicoly. Phylogenetic analyses approaches might help to better document and increase our knowledge on such peculiar environments. The singularity of the distribution pattern of the adaptation to cavernicoly in planthoppers raises also interesting questions to investigate and suggest contrasting scenarios to explore further, particularly should the Cixiidae be defined as a subtroglophile lineage?