Systematic Entomology, Section Leader

Research Interests

Insect systematics; evolution, biodiversity, and conservation of leafhoppers and related insects (Hemiptera)

Research Description

Ongoing projects include phylogenomic analyses of major lineages of Membracoidea, development of online tools for genus and species identification, studies of the diversity and evolution of leafhopper-associated plant pathogens, and conservation of grassland insect biotas.

Education

PhD, Entomology, North Carolina State University, 1990
BS, Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 1984

Additional Campus Affiliations

Systematic Entomology, Section Leader, Illinois Natural History Survey
Affiliate, Entomology
Affiliate, Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies

Recent Publications

Cai, W., Zhang, X., Ma, J., Liu, Z., Dietrich, C. H., & Yuan, X. (Accepted/In press). Chromosome-level genome assembly of the invasive pest Stictocephala bisonia: insights into genes for environmental stress adaptation. Pest Management Science. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.70693

Cao, Y., Dietrich, C. H., Dmitriev, D. A., Zou, H., Xue, Q., & Zhang, Y. (2026). Analyses of expanded anchored-hybrid phylogenomic datasets support revisions to the higher classification of leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). Systematic Entomology, 51(1), Article e70035. https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.70035

El-Sonbati, S. A., Dietrich, C. H., Wilson, M. R., Al Harbi, M. M., & Al Dhafer, H. M. (2026). Taxonomic and morphological characterization of genus Neolimnus Linnavuori (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae, Deltocephalinae, Phlepsiini), with description of two new species. Zootaxa, 5757(5), 217-230. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5757.5.3

Ran, W., Yuan, X., Dietrich, C. H., Su, D., & Song, Y. (2026). Five new leafhopper species of Limassolla Dlabola from Thailand and Madagascar (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae). ZooKeys, (1273), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1273.183175

Ran, W., Yuan, X., Yang, X., Guan, D., Liang, S., Zhao, Y., Dietrich, C. H., Su, D., & Song, Y. (2026). Phylogenomic insights into the tribal-level phylogeny of Typhlocybinae. Systematic Entomology, 51(1), Article e70033. https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.70033

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