Dermapteran life-history evolution and phylogeny with special reference to the Forficulidae family

The order Dermaptera displays a great diversity of life histories from real iteroparity (n clutches per year and per female) to strict semelparity (one reproductive cycle per year). Climatic criteria allow a general ordering of these life histories from iteroparous/tropical species to semelparous/cold-adapted taxa. A first molecular phylogeny based on the mitochondrial 16S rRNA partial sequence supports this general trend of evolution. First, the phylogeny confirms the monophyly of Dermaptera, already established on morphological characters. Second, the reduction in the number of reproductive cycles appears to be associated with the invasion of temperate areas, and then of colder regions. Lastly, the phylogeny reveals that the reduction to semelparity is not due to a unique evolutionary event, but occurred at least three times in the Forficulidae family in connection with a colonization of subalpine regions.