New publication on grasshoppers

In a current publication in ‘Molecular Ecology Resources‘, colleagues from the DNA barcoding initiatives from Germany (GBOL & BFB), Austria (ABOL) and Switzerland (SWISSBOL) report on their findings in  Orthoptera. For 127 of the 162 species occurring in the three countries, DNA barcodes could be created and analyzed. In 76.2% of the species, a simple and definite determination is possible, but 26 species of Acrididae and Tetrigidae form mixed molecular units, which require a closer examination. Incomplete lineage sorting and hybridization are discussed as possible explanations. These natural phenomena are also known for many other evolutionary young species groups.