Exploring the relationship of Homalosilpha and Mimosilpha (Blattodea, Blattidae, Blattinae) from a morphological and molecular perspective, including a description of four new species

This study utilized six genes (12S, 16S, 18S, 28S, COII and H3) from a total of 40 samples to construct maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) phylogenetic trees in order to infer the relationships between the morphologically similar genera Homalosilpha Stal, 1874 and Mimosilpha Bey-Bienko, 1957. The phylogenetic analysis showed the two genera have a close relationship and were recovered as sister groups based on ML and BI analyses. Four new species are described among these samples, i.e., Homalosilpha obtusangula sp. nov., Homalosilpha recta sp. nov., Homalosilpha alba sp. nov. and Homalosilpha clavellata sp. nov. based on morphological and COI data. A key to the worldwide Homalosilpha is provided.

Automated summary

This study constructed phylogenetic trees using gene sequences to infer the relationship between Homalosilpha and Mimosilpha, revealing a close relationship and describing four new species.