圆痕叶蝉亚科Megophthalminae昆虫刺吸植物汁液造成为害，许多种类传播植物病毒病，严重危害对农林生产。尽管圆痕叶蝉亚科的区系分类已取得一定进展，但整个亚科的系统发育关系仍然未知，高级分类单元分歧不断，族级阶元缺乏明确鉴别特征，许多属的鉴别特征之间广泛交叉与重叠，严重制约了圆痕叶蝉亚科昆虫分类和系统发育研究，亟待全面整合研究世界圆痕叶蝉代表性类群，重建系统发育，完成高级分类单元的重新划分和订正。本研究针对目前圆痕叶蝉分类存在的主要问题，在前期对中国及美洲地区圆痕叶蝉种类订正的基础上，综合形态和解剖学特征、生物地理和分子数据等特征，重建高级阶元的系统发育关系，廓清圆痕叶蝉亚科族、属等高级类群间及该亚科与近缘类群的亲缘关系，对族、属进行重新划分，构建反映自然进化历史的分类体系，为查清叶蝉科昆虫的种类及其分布格局、促进叶蝉科昆虫的分类研究提供理论基础。

The leafhopper subfamily Megophthalminae comprises 772 described species currently placed in 63 genera. Megophthalmines feed on plant sap by the highly specialized piercing-sucking mouthparts. Some megophthalmine species are important agricultural pests which transmit plant pathogens. Despite the importance of these insects as a study group, there is no comprehensive phylogeny depicting the evolutionary relationships among these insects. Moreover, its higher classification is unstable and relationships among tribes and the natural relationships among the many megophthalmine genera are poorly understood. Based on our previous research on revision of Megophthalminae from the China and American region, this project will provide the first detailed phylogenetic analyses for this group and examine relationships within this lineage using a large number of morphological and anatomical information, DNA sequence data in combination with biogeographic data. Phylogenetic analysis of morphological and molecualr data will be used to inform decisions on the tribal placements of genera. Megophthalmine tribes and genera will also be redefined based on natural relationships. Moreover, a natural system of classification in conformity with the phylogenetic relationships and evolutional history will be built. This phylogeny will become the foundation for all future research on Cicadellidae, including the discovery and description of new species. In addition, the results from this research will allow scientists to better understand diversification of the group and biogeographical patterns at the continental and intracontinental level.