PATTERNS OF SPECIATION IN THE GENUS LOPIDEA (HETEROPTERA, MIRIDAE, ORTHOTYLINAE)

Speciation in four monophyletic species groups of the mirid genus Lopidea is examined. An analysis of twelve speciation events suggests that vicariance can account for at least 50% of speciation in Lopidea, and the frequency of sympatric host plant speciation may be as high as 25%. In examples attributable to peripheral isolate speciation, the daughter taxa typically occur in recognized areas of endemism, suggesting a common cause (vicariance) for their origins. In addition, seven zones of disjunction between subspecies and allopatric sister species were identified for Lopidea, which correspond with similar disjunctions between sister taxa in other groups of organisms.