The geographical distribution of the Dermaptera (Insecta) with reference to continental drift

Abstract

In this exercise, the centres of evolution of the main forficuline taxa have been determined using the techniques of Nelson and Rosen (1981). This has shown that the Forficulina arose in an area of land now comprising north east Brazil and north west Africa. From here some taxa spread westwards into the Americas and others going eastwards to the rest of Africa, Madagascar, and Australia. The Cretaceous separation of India from Africa and its subsequent drift across the Indian Ocean to fuse with south east Asia resulted in the Oriental Region becoming a secondary centre of forficuline evolution, from whence various taxa have subsequently spread into Burma, China, Japan and Micronesia. Other taxa spread through the East Indies into New Guinea, Australia and associated islands. A few migrated from central Gondwanaland into Antarctica and thence to New Zealand and associated Polynesian islands. During the Miocene orogenesis of the Sea of Tethys, some families spread from north Africa into southern Europe and the Middle East. An analysis the geographical distributions of the various families indicates the main migration routes used by forficuline taxa as aspects of Dermapteran systematics in need of further study and consideration.