Phylogenomics and deep convergence in cockroach hind-wing morphology

Despite regular advances in Blattodea systematics, several relationships
remain controversial or untested in formal phylogenetic reconstructions.
This common situation for understudied metazoan groups limits our power to
answer questions about phenotypic evolution. In this study, we infer the
evolutionary history of Blattodea using newly sampled taxa that improve
phylogenetic resolution while also illuminating the evolutionary history
of an unusual phenotype—the apically folded hind-wing. Taxa newly
sequenced include those with a hind-wing apical fold (Anaplecta pulchella,
A. pygmaea, A. sp. cf. malaysensis, Diplopterina parva, Prosoplecta
semperi, Anaplectoidea klossi, and Oulopteryx illuminata sp. nov. that we
describe herein, including its male genitalia) and other rare taxa
(Dipteretrum hamstroemi, Duchailluia togoensis, Lauraesilpha mearetoi,
Buboblatta vlasaki). The phylogenetic design utilizes 41 genes over 91
species in total, analyzed in a maximum likelihood and coalescent
framework. To quantify the phylogenetic uncertainty of the analysis,
support for various topologies is assessed. We find unambiguous support
for the surprising position of Neotropical Oulopteryx (Oulopterygidae) as
sister to New Caledonian/Australian Tryonicidae. This, and other
phylogenetic findings, reveal that the apically folded hind-wing may have
arisen nine times in Blattodea. Further investigations are needed, notably
with an increased taxonomic sampling, to demonstrate stronger support for
the placement of rogue taxa (e.g., Anaplecta) and to investigate the
evolutionary correlates of wing evolution.