Illustrated Guide to Families

*Delphacidae
Hind tibia with movable spur. The spur is large, distinctly larger than the teeth that are also at the end of the tibiae. Delphacids are mostly small insects, usually between 2-4 mm (but range 1.5 - ~7mm). The wings are membranous or somewhat thickened (especially when brachypterous), and held tent like; the wings may be clear or patterned. Among the planthoppers, the family Delphacidae is most easily recognized by examining the hind legs.

Fulgoridae
Second segment of hind tarsi with row of apical spines. Apical and hind areas of hindwings with many cross veins.

Achilidae
Second segment of hind tarsi with row of apical spines.Forewings with apices overlapping when at rest.

Meenoplidae
Second segment of hind tarsi with row of apical spines. One or both claval veins tuberculate; apical segment of rostrum longer than wide.

*Derbidae
Second segment of hind tarsi with row of apical spines. Apical segment of rostrum very short and globular, usually as wide as long.

Dictyopharidae
Second segment of hind tarsi with row of apical spines. Cephalic projection present but if not present then face with 2 or 3 median carinae .

*Cixiidae
Second segment of hind tarsi with row of apical spines. Forewing with veins usually bearing setae in tubercles. Ovipositor often long and sword shaped.

Kinnariidae
Second segment of hind tarsi with row of apical spines. Forewing with veins not tuberculate and lacking setae. External genitalia reduced in female.

Tettigometridae
Compound eyes not separated from frons by strong lateral carinae, lateral ocelli visible in frontal view

Tropiduchidae
Second hind tarsal segment with a spine at each side. Mesonotum usually with posterior angle separated by transverse suture

*Flatidae
Second hind tarsal segment with a spine at each side. Clavus with many prominent tubercles, fore wings usually opaque

Nogodinidae
Second hind tarsal segment with a spine at each side. Fore wing and hind wing well developed. Anterior margin of pronotum exceeding level of middle of eye, clypeus usually carinate. Gonoplacs flattened laterally, elongate. Anterior connective lamina of gonapophyse VIII narrow and long. Style without lateral tooth.

Issidae
Second hind tarsal segment with a spine at each side. Fore wing brachypterous and hind wing may be absent or reduced in size. Gonoplacs convex, rounded. Anterior connective lamina of gonapophyse VIII wide. Style with lateral tooth.

Ricaniidae
Second hind tarsal segment often small and without spines. Claval suture extending almost to apex of fore wing; fore wing often with apical margin as broad or

Lophopidae
Second hind tarsal segment often small and without spines. Claval suture not extending to apex of fore wing, fore wing with apical margin shorter than anal margin Vertex, narrow, width less than 3 times length at midline. Clypeus with lateral carinae, frons usually longer than wide.

Eurybrachidae
Second hind tarsal segment often small and without spines. Claval suture not extending to apex of fore wing, fore wing with apical margin shorter than anal margin Vertex wide, three times wider in mid line than length. Clypeus without lateral carinae, frons wider than long

Agallinae
Crown broadly rounded. Anterior margin of pronotum not extending beyond anterior margin of eyes. Head and thorax often finely sculptured.

Deltocephalinae
Ocello-ocular area without distinct ledge or carina above antennal pit.

Acinophorini Forewings acuminate apically. Head slightly narrower than pronotum.
Athysanini Robust species, forewing often with dark brown markings. Frontal region of crown upturned or swollen.
Deltocephalini Slender leafhoppers, vertex less than twice as long as broad. Males plates fused with valve basally but free distally.
Fieberiellini Forewing central apical cell parallel sides, outer anteapical cell parallel sided and sometimes divided by one or more crossviens.
Macrostelini Forewing with 2 anteapical cells. Aedeagus with shaft fused to base. Pygophore setae often plumose.
Cicadulini ?? male anal segment elongate and sclerotised dorsally.
Opsiini Aedeagus bifurcate with two gonopores. Anterior margin of head never with carinae or ridges. Face convex
Scaphoideini Antennae long; paraphyses often present, articulated or wekly fused with connective. Subgenital plates usually long and triangular, often membraneous apically, often with fine hairs on margin or dorsally. Anterior margin of head rounded to acutely angled.
Scaphytopiini Clypellus broad less than 2.5 times longer than broadest width, tapered or expanded apically, apex truncate, extended little if at all beyond lower margins of genae. Genae neither incised nor sinuate, visible behind eyes in dorsal view. Head produced, frontoclypeus elongate forewing often with several reflexed costal veinlets.
Chiasmini subgenital plates separated from valve by distinct suture, not fused basally. Apices without sharp processes. Aedeagus with hinge-like joint between base and shaft.  Pygophore setae not plumose.

Macropsinae
Crown obtusely angled. Anterior margin of pronotum extending beyond anterior margin of eyes. Head and thorax often deeply sculptured.

Typhlocybinae
Forewing without crossveins subapically. Ocelli usually absent. Often small fragile leafhoppers.

Cicadellinae
Clypeus swollen; ocelli on disk of crown

Coelidiinae
Clypeus flattened: ocelli near anterior margin of crown

Scarinae (= Gyponinae)
Lateral margins of pronotum long and carinate. Dorsoventally flattened species.

Aphrodinae
Ocello-ocular area with distinct ledge or carina above antennal pit.

Idiocerinae
wedge shaped leafhoppers with broad head.