Phylogenetics and Evolutionary Dynamics of Yunnan Acrididae Grasshoppers Inferred from 17 New Mitochondrial Genomes

Yunnan Province, a global biodiversity hotspot, hosts a diverse array of Acrididae grasshoppers essential for ecosystem dynamics and agriculture. To elucidate the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history of this group, we sequenced and analyzed complete mitochondrial genomes from 17 Acrididae species endemic to Yunnan, with genome lengths ranging from 15,403 to 15,943 base pairs. These data were integrated with mitochondrial sequences from 46 additional species to construct comprehensive phylogenetic trees. The maximum-likelihood tree identified four major clades with robust support (bootstrap values > 90%), revealing significant lineage diversification during the Early Eocene (51.94 million years ago, Mya) and subsequent radiations in the Miocene (~20 Mya) and Pliocene (~5 Mya). These divergence times correlate with major geological events and climatic shifts in the region, such as the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau and the intensification of the Asian monsoon. Notably, several species within the Coptacrinae and Oxyinae subfamilies, particularly Pseudodotraulia cornuata and Spathosternum prasiniferum, were found to be polyphyletic, indicating the necessity for taxonomic revisions. Further cluster analyses of codon usage bias and genetic distance support these taxonomic revisions within Acrididae. This robust phylogenetic framework underpins conservation strategies aimed at preserving Yunnan’s rich grasshopper biodiversity and informs updates to their phylogeny.