The history of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas (QTPH) region makes it a ‘living laboratory’ for understanding how the Earth’s abiotic evolution has shaped regional biotas. However, no studies to date have attempted to investigate general macro-scale biogeographical patterns and biogeographical affinities of the QTPH terrestrial fauna in a global context. Based on the analyses of the global distributions of QTPH Aphidomorpha species, we examined generalized distribution patterns for them and investigated the biogeographical affinities between the QTPH and other regions. Track analysis and cluster analysis of the global distributions of 298 Aphidomorpha species in the QTPH identified seven generalized biogeographical tracks and eight general distribution patterns. Both approaches detected similarly generalized distribution patterns. Four marginal areas where the generalized tracks intersect, i.e. the eastern Himalayas, the western Himalayas, the Hengduan Mountains, and the northeastern QTPH, were identified as biogeographical nodes. The generalized distribution patterns indicate the biogeographical affinities between the QTPH and other regions and suggest the complex nature of the QTPH fauna. A spatial congruence between the nodes and diversity centres detected by previous studies indicates the four marginal areas have been key areas in fauna evolution as centres for faunal exchange as well as glacial refugia. Based on the biogeographical patterns, the geological history of the QTPH and the evolutionary history of Aphidomorpha, we propose an evolutionary scenario for the evolution of the QTPH aphid fauna in which faunal exchanges, vicariance due to the uplift of geographical barriers, environmental heterogeneity and Quarternary glaciations have shaped the diversity patterns and fauna in the QTPH.

The history of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas (QTPH) region makes it a ‘living laboratory’ for understanding how the Earth’s abiotic evolution has shaped regional biotas. However, no studies to date have attempted to investigate general macro-scale biogeographical patterns and biogeographical affinities of the QTPH terrestrial fauna in a global context. Based on the analyses of the global distributions of QTPH Aphidomorpha species, we examined generalized distribution patterns for them and investigated the biogeographical affinities between the QTPH and other regions. Track analysis and cluster analysis of the global distributions of 298 Aphidomorpha species in the QTPH identified seven generalized biogeographical tracks and eight general distribution patterns. Both approaches detected similarly generalized distribution patterns. Four marginal areas where the generalized tracks intersect, i.e. the eastern Himalayas, the western Himalayas, the Hengduan Mountains, and the northeastern QTPH, were identified as biogeographical nodes. The generalized distribution patterns indicate the biogeographical affinities between the QTPH and other regions and suggest the complex nature of the QTPH fauna. A spatial congruence between the nodes and diversity centres detected by previous studies indicates the four marginal areas have been key areas in fauna evolution as centres for faunal exchange as well as glacial refugia. Based on the biogeographical patterns, the geological history of the QTPH and the evolutionary history of Aphidomorpha, we propose an evolutionary scenario for the evolution of the QTPH aphid fauna in which faunal exchanges, vicariance due to the uplift of geographical barriers, environmental heterogeneity and Quarternary glaciations have shaped the diversity patterns and fauna in the QTPH.