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Member Symposium

Systematics, Evolution, and Biodiversity

Small Orders, Big Ideas: Biodiversity of Polyneoptera

The evolutionary history of pygmy mole crickets and their relatives (Orthoptera: Tridactyloidea)

Sunday, November 9, 2025

3:35 PM - 3:50 PM Pacific

Location: Oregon Convention Center, B115, OCC

Presenting Author(s)

BW

Brandon Woo

PhD Candidate
Texas A&M University
Bryan, Texas

Co-Author(s)

Jackson B. Linde

M.S.
Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas
KP

Katie Puperi

Undergraduate student
Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas
Hojun Song

Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas

Pygmy mole crickets have long been recognized as an ancient lineage of Orthoptera, but knowledge of their internal relationships has been lacking. We generated phylogenomic data for about 40 species, representing all major lineages within this clade. We recover the three monophyletic extant families of Tridactyloidea, and generate novel phylogenetic hypotheses for the relationships within Tridactylidae. Inconsistencies with previous classifications based on morphology are discussed. Diversification and biogeographic history of these insects are also explored. This work establishes a robust phylogenetic framework upon which future studies of this group can build.