A Time‐Calibrated Phylogeny and Historical Biogeography of Leptoceridae (Trichoptera): Diversification Shaped by Gondwanan Fragmentation and Conflicting Evidence for the Family's Origin

ABSTRACT Aim Leptoceridae is the second most diverse caddisfly family, spreading across all biogeographical regions but with a higher species richness in the Oriental region; nevertheless, the Afrotropical, Austral and Neotropical regions have greater genera diversity and endemicity. The biogeographical history of Leptoceridae has never been formally investigated and no family level time‐calibrated tree is available. In this study we investigate the biogeographical events that shaped the family diversification and distribution. Location Gondwana and Laurasia. Taxon Leptoceridae (Trichoptera). Methods The time‐calibrated phylogeny of Leptoceridae and its biogeographical history were inferred using five molecular markers (COI, CAD, IDH, EF‐1α and POL II) including 39 of the 47 genera of the family and using representatives of all fossil genera for calibration. Phylogenetic analysis and divergence times were inferred through Bayesian Inference in Mrbayes; biogeographical analyses were performed in BioGeoBEARS. Results The results suggest the origin of Leptoceridae around 147 mya (Late Jurassic) with the first cladogenesis (~135 mya) being congruent with the Gondwana break up in West Gondwana and East Gondwana. The Leptorussinae and Triplectidinae origin were estimated to 121 mya with an ancestral range in East Gondwana, while the Grumichellinae and Leptocerinae were estimated to 128 mya with ancestral range in West Gondwana. Based on the results, the genus Russobex was transferred from Leptocerinae to Triplectidinae and Leptocerina , Leptecho and Neoathripsodes were removed from Athripsodini to incertae sedis . Main Conclusion The results strongly support a Gondwanan diversification of the extant Leptoceridae lineages, consistent with major Gondwana fragmentation events. The origin of the family is still unresolved since the oldest fossils of the family (125–113 mya) from East Palearctic are inconsistent with the recovered Gondwana origin. A phylogenetic assessment of these fossils is needed in order to test if they belong to Leptoceridae or to a distinct lineage.