The following key separates the major groups (subfamilies and tribes) of leafhoppers.
Key to the family-group taxa of Cicadellidae C.H.Dietrich, 5-viii-93; revised 28-X-99
[Note: this key follows the provisional classification of Oman et al. (1990); it is currently under construction and is not yet comprehensive. Use it at your own risk!]
1 Forewing crossvein r-m1 absent, or if present, short and situated well basad of origin of R4+5; forewing macropterous, or if reduced (submacropterous or brachypterous), then with crown raised and shelflike mesiad of eyes; hind femur macrosetal formula 2+1, 2+1+1, or 2+2+1 with penultimate pair widely separated ....................................................................................... 2
1' Forewing crossvein r-m1 present, or if absent then either forewing brachypterous, or crown not raised mesiad of eyes, or hind femur macrosetal formula 2+2+1 with penultimate pair close-set ............................................................................................................................................ 23
2(1) Forewing vein R 2-branched, or if 3-branched, without preapical crossveins (except Tinteromini); hind tarsomere I slender, tapered apically, with 0-3 platellae; crown not raised and shelflike mesiad of eyes, frontoclypeus without median longitudinal carina ......Typhlocybinae (including Mileewini and Tinteromini). 3
2' Forewing vein R with 3 or more branches, with one or more preapical crossveins; hind tarsomere I broad and truncate apically, with transverse row of 4 or more platellae; crown usually raised and shelflike mesiad of eyes; frontoclypeus often with median longitudinal carina ............................................................................................................................................ 11
3(2) Forewing with appendix ............................................................................................ 4
3' Forewing without appendix ............................................................................................ 6
4(3) Ocelli on crown, distant from margin, forewing with 2 claval veins .......................... 5
4' Ocelli on or near anterior margin of head, forewing with 0-1 claval veins .............. Alebrini
5(4) Antennae longer than body, first 2 segments greatly enlarged ..................... Tinteromini
5' Antennae shorter than body, first 2 segments unmodified ................................. Mileewini
6(3) Hind wing with submarginal vein extended along costal margin basad of R or R+M vein apices ..................................................................................................................... Dikraneurini
6' Hind wing submarginal vein absent along costal margin ................................................... 7
7(6) Hind wing vannal vein unbranched ........................................................... Erythroneurini
7' Hind wing vannal vein branched ......................................................................................... 8
8(7) Submarginal vein present at apex of hind wing, connecting apices of veins M (or R+M) and Cu, apex of vein R free ................................................................................... 9
8' Submarginal vein absent at apex of hind wing, apices of R, M, and CuA free ................ 10
9(8) Hind wing veins R and M confluent ................................................................ Empoascini
9' Hind wing veins R and M free, apex of R not connected to submarginal vein .......... Jorumini
10(8) Hind wing vein CuA confluent with submarginal vein, apex not free .............. Zyginellini
10' Hind wing vein CuA with apex free, not confluent with submarginal crossvein ..........
.............................................................................................................................. Typhlocybini
11(2) Hind wing veins R4+5 and M1+2 confluent preapically; clypellus often with medial tumosity ............................................................................................................ Neocoelidiinae
11' Hind wing veins R4+5 and M1+2 free; clypellus flat or evenly convex, without medial tumosity .............................................................................................................................. 12
12(11) Antennal ledges absent or very weak; crown width less than 1.5X eye width ............................................................................................................................. Coelidiinae 13
12' Antennal ledges well-developed; crown width greater than 1.5X eye width ... Nirvaninae 20
13(12) Base of forewing concealed by pronotum; usually brachypterous ........... Tinobregmini
13' Base of forewing exposed; very rarely brachypterous ..................................................... 14
14(13) Pronotum bicarinate laterally, crown with pair of arcuate longitudinal keels... Sandersellini
14' Pronotum unicarinate laterally, crown without keels .......................................................... 15
15(14) Crown distinctly elevated above level of eyes, usually strongly produced anteriorly and with distinct striations convergent toward apex; male plate usually appearing two-segmented ... 16
15 Crown weakly or not elevated above level of eyes, weakly produced anteriorly and usually without distinct longitudinal striations; male plate not two-segmented ....................................... 19
16(15) Aedeagus unipendulate and symmetrical, fused to connective; plate sparsely setose ...................................................................................................................................... Hikangiini
16' Aedeagus bipendulate or asymmetrical, articulated to connective; plate profusely setose ... 17
17(16) Aedeagus bipendulate (except Neotharra); style claw- or hooklike apically ...... Tharrini
17' Aedeagus unipendulate; style not clawlike, rarely hooklike apically ............. Youngolidiini
18(15) Frontoclypeus with complete median longitudinal carina ........................... Teruliini
18' Frontoclypeus without or with partial median longitudinal carina ............................. 19
19(18) Prothoracic tibia and femur flattened or foliaceous ...................................... Gabritini
19' Prothoracic tibia and femur slender .................................................................. Coelidiini
20(12) Pronotum extended to scutellum, coarsely punctate .............. Signoretiini (=Phlogisini)
20' Pronotum not extended to scutellum, punctations indistinct or absent ............................ 21
21(20) Forewing crossvein s absent; head depressed .............................................. Nirvanini
21' Forewing crossvein s present; head not depressed .......................................................... 22
22(21) Anterior margin of head with 3 transverse parallel carinae .............. Macroceratogoniini
22' Anterior margin of head with, at most, a single transverse carina .................. Evacanthini
23(1) Clypellus and frontoclypeus strongly inflated, ocelli on crown, lateral frontal sutures usually extended to or near ocelli ..................................................................................... 24
23' Clypellus and frontoclypeus flattened, or, if inflated, then ocelli on anterior margin of head or on face and lateral frontal sutures not extended to or near ocelli ...................................... 30
24(23) Macropterous, inner apical cell of forewing narrow and much longer than adjacent apical cell, M3+4 subparallel to anal margin of wing; male plates tapered distally, not strongly constricted basally ........................................................................................................... Cicadellinae 25
24' Usually brachypterous, but if forewing well-developed, inner apical cell of forewing short and broad, little, if any, longer than adjacent apical cell, M3+4 convergent toward anal margin of wing; male plates constricted basally, broadest at or distad of midlength ..................................... 28
25(24) Antennal ledge in dorsal view prominent; hind femur in repose not attaining posterior margin of proepimeron ................................................................................. 26
25' Antennal ledge in dorsal view not prominent; hind femur in repose usually attaining posterior margin of proepimeron ................................................................................. 27
26(25) Body strongly compressed ...................................................... Phereurhinini
26' Body cylindrical ......................................................................... Proconiini
27(25) Crown margin anterad of eye forming sharp, continuous ridge; pronotum largely concealing mesonotum ...................................................................... Makilingiini
27' Crown margin anterad of eye with carina, if present, not continuous; mesonotum largely exposed ......................................................................................... Cicadellini
28(24) Gena acutely emarginate; hind femoral setal formula 2+2+1 ....... Euacanthellinae, 29
28' Gena not acutely emarginate; hind femur with supranumerary macrosetae ..... Errhomeninae
29(28) Beetlelike, dorsum of abdomen tuberculate .............................. Sagmatiini
29' Not beetlelike, dorsum of abdomen smooth .................................. Euacanthellini
30(23) Mesothoracic trochanter with single stout ventral seta; forewing either brachypterous or with crossvein connecting vein A1 to claval suture, or both; ocelli on or near crown margin ........................................................................................................... 57
30' Mesothoracic trochanter without stout ventral setae or with a group of stout setae of approximately equal size; forewing without crossvein connecting vein A1 to claval suture; ocelli position variable, often either on face or on crown distant from margin ....................... 31
31(30) Head with lateral frontal sutures ending abruptly a short distance above antennal ledges; male plates constricted basally and partially or entirely concealed by enlarged sternum VIII ............................................................................................................. 32
31' Head with lateral frontal sutures either fully developed or entirely obsolete; male plates in ventral view tapered toward apex, not or only slightly retracted, sternum VIII not enlarged ........................... ........................... .................................... ............... 41
32(31) Hind femur with macrosetal formula 3+0 ..................................... Ledrinae, 33
32' Hind femur with macrosetal formula various, not 3+0 ........................... Iassinae, 35
33(32) Ocelli on crown distant from margin .............................. Ledrini (=Petalocephalini)
33' Ocelli on or near crown margin .................................................................. 34
34(33) Rostrum elongate, extended to or beyond hind coxae, forewing claval veins confluent distally ......................................................................................... Stenocotini
34' Rostrum not extended to hind coxae, forewing claval veins free ................... Thymbrini
35(31) Hind wing veins R4+5 and M1+2 confluent near apex, or if veins free, then crown poorly delimited ....................... Iassini (=Trocnadini, Hyalojassini)
35' Hind wing veins R4+5 and M1+2 free, crown well delimited .................................. 39
36(35) Crown strongly depressed and produced, margin well delimited ....................... 37
36' Crown convex, not or only weakly produced, rounded to face ................................. 38
37(36) Ocelli on or near margin of crown ................................................ Reuplemellini
37' Ocelli on crown, distant from margin ................................................... Platyjassini
38(36) Head with face distinctly bent at right angle across antennal ledges, crown vertical and forming continuous curve with strongly declivous pronotum ........................... Trocnadini
38' Head with crown and face more or less evenly convex, pronotum at most weakly declivous
............................................................................................................ Iassini (=Hyalojassini)
[note: the New World genera, unplaced to tribe by Blocker (1979) key to Iassini here with the exception of Scaroidana Osborn and Pachyopsis Uhler, which have hind wing veins R and M free distally]
39(35) Ocelli on crown distant from margin ............................................................ Scarini
39' Ocelli on anterior margin of head .............................................................................. 40
40(39) Forewing with venation reticulate distally, inner apical cell narrow, acuminate ... Krisnini
40' Forewing venation with, at most, 1-2 supranumerary crossveins, inner apical cell broad
........................................................................................................................ Selenomorphini
41(31). Pronotum strongly produced, anterior margin extended anterad of eyes ............... 42
41' Pronotum not or weakly produced, anterior margin not extended anterad of eyes ......... 46
42(41) Hind tibia macrosetal row AD with small cucullate setae interspersed between large setae
....................................................................................................................................... 43
42' Hind tibia macrosetal row AD without cucullate intercalary setae ........................... 44
43(42) Face with lateral frontal sutures well-developed, extended to ocelli, anterior margin of crown distinctly carinate; hind femur with macrosetal formula 2+2 or 2+2+1; hind wing with submarginal vein extended onto anal lobe ................................................. Tartessinae
43' Face with lateral frontal sutures absent, anterior margin of crown without carina; hind femur with macrosetal formula 2+1+1; hind wing with submarginal vein not extended onto anal lobe .................................................................................................................... Neopsinae
44(42) Proepisternum large, not concealed by gena; hind wing vein R2+3 absent (submarginal vein not extending along costal margin basad of R4+5) ................................ Macropsinae
44' Proepisternum small, entirely concealed by gena; hind wing vein R2+3 present (submarginal vein extended along costal margin basad of R4+5) ..................................... Nioniinae, 45
45(44) Frontoclypeus angulately tapered dorsally; male with aedeagal shaft undivided, with single gonopore (Old World) ....................................................................... Magnentiini
45' Frontoclypeus broadly rounded dorsally; male with aedeagal shaft divided, with two gonopores (New World) .......................................................................... Nioniini
46(41) Mesanepisternum keeled; head and pronotum coarsely punctate .............. Ulopinae, 47
46' Mesanepisternum not keeled; head and pronotum at most finely punctate .................... 49
47(46) Body elongate, seed shaped, head more than 2X longer than pronotum ... Cephalelini
47' Body robust, ovoid, head usually less than 2X longer than pronotum .................... 48
48(47) Ocelli absent; forewing sexually dimorphic, those of male forewings short and truncate .... ............................................................................................... Monteithiini
48' Ocelli well-developed; forewings not sexually dimorphic ............................ Ulopini
49(46) Forewing membrane glabrous; hind tibia macrosetal row I with many more macrosetae than row II; first valvula strigate ........................................................................ 50
49' Forewing membrane distinctly shagreen; hind tibia macrosetal row I with 0-1 more macrosetae than row II; first valvula not strigate ............................................. Megophthalminae, 54
50(49) Head with crown distinctly delimited, flat ................................. Austroagalloidinae
50' Head with crown poorly delimited, convex, rounded to face ................... Eurymelinae, 51
51(50) Forewing with three m-cu crossveins, s-crossvein absent, membrane usually opaquely sclerotized; hind femur in repose not reaching mesepisternum ..................................... 52
51' Forewing with two m-cu crossveins, or if three present, then s crossvein present and membrane not opaquely sclerotized; hind femur in repose reaching mesepisternum ...... Idiocerini
52(51) Head narrower than hind margin of pronotum; hind tibia row AD with macrosetae evenly distributed and subequal in size ........................................................... Pogonoscopini
52' Head as wide as or wider than hind margin of pronotum; hind tibia row AD with distal setae enlarged with spinose bases ............................................................................. 53
53(52) Forewing opaquely sclerotized; male plates with accessory processes ......... Eurymelini
53' Forewing translucent; male plates without accessory processes .......................... Ipoini
54(49) Clypellar suture complete, transverse ........................................................ 55
54' Clypellar suture obsolete medially, arcuate ...................................................... 56
55(54) Postfrontal sutures carinate, crown produced; forwing venation not reticulate .............................................................................................. Megophthalmini
55' Postfrontal sutures not carinate and crown not produced, or if so, then forewing venation reticulate ........................................................................................ Adelungiini
56(54) Crown not produced, or if so then ocelli present and on face ..................... Agalliini
56' Crown produced, ocelli absent .................................................................... Evansiolini
57(30) Forewing membrane clothed with setae and/or scales ..................................... 58
57' Forewing membrane without setae or scales .......................................................... 59
58(57) Branches of forewing vein M apparently connected by crossvein ................ Hylicinae
58' Branches of forewing vein M not connected by crossvein .......................... Bythoniinae
59(57) Male plates ligulate, widest near midlength; head with lateral frontal sutures extended ventromesiad of ocelli ................................................................................................. 60
59' Male plates not ligulate, widest near base, or, if narrowest near base then head with laterofrontal sutures, when present, extended to or laterad of ocelli ............................. 63
60(59) Mesial margin of eye distinctly emarginate; hind tibia with proximal macroseta of row I aligned with remaining macrosetae in row ............................................. Aphrodinae, 61
60' Mesial margin of eye not emarginate; hind tibia with proximal macroseta of row I offset toward row II .............................................................................................. Neobalinae
61(60) Frontoclypeus in facial view at least 2X longer than wide; hind wing submarginal vein well-developed .................................................................................. Portanini
61' Frontoclypeus in facial view little or no longer than wide; hind wing with submarginal vein obsolete apically .......................................................................................... 62
62(61) Front femur setal row AV represented by a single stout seta; ovipositor distinctly arcuate ................................................................................................ Xestocephalini
62' Front femur setal row AV with two or more stout setae; ovipositor not arcuate ... Aphrodini
63(59) Lateral frontal sutures either absent or not extended to or laterad of ocelli; crown often strongly produced and/or spatulate .................................................................... 64
63' Lateral frontal sutures extended to or laterad of ocelli; crown variable, usually neither strongly produced nor spatulate ................................................................................... 69
64(59) Forewing apices at rest not or only slightly overlapping, membrane granulose; femur not reaching mesepimeron in repose, macrosetal formula 2+0 or 2+1 .................. Eupelicinae, 66
64' Forewing apices strongly overlapping, membrane glabrous; then hind femur reaching mesepimeron in repose, macrosetal formula usually 2+2+1 ..................... Penthimiinae, 65
65(64) Aedeagal shaft divided near base, with two gonopores ......................... Mukariini
65' Aedeagal shaft at most weakly cleft near apex, with one gonopore ............... Penthimiini
66(64) Head with frons produced into large, basally constricted rhomboidal process Listrophorini
66' Head with frons, if produced, neither rhomboidal nor basally constricted .................. 66
67(66) Head with gena broad, concealing proepisternum ............ Eupelicini (=Paraphrodini?)
67' Gena not concealing proepisternum .............................................................. 67
68(67) Forewing with claval veins confluent preapically (except Dorycephalus); male valve articulated to pygofer, pygofer with oblique basolateral membranous cleft; female second valvula in lateral view broad and parallel-sided in apical half, apex subtruncate ................. Dorycephalini
68' Forewing with claval veins separate throughout their length; male valve fused to pygofer, pygofer without basolateral cleft; female second valvula in lateral view tapered toward apex .................................................................................................. Paradorydiini
69(63) Hind tibia with irregularly spaced macrosetae basally between rows AD and PD .......................................................................................................................... Stegelytrinae
[Doda & several other unplaced genera removed from Coelidiinae by Nielson key to this couplet]
69' Hind tibia without macrosetae between rows AD and PD ................................... 70
70(69) Male valve band-like, fused to pygofer, subgenital plates fused medially; female second valvulae distinctly asymmetrical; head with transverse carina between ocelli ........ Acostemminae
70' Male valve free, usually triangular or semicircular, subgenital plates free (except Tetartostylini and Goniagnathini); female second valvulae symmetrical or nearly so; head with or without transverse carina between ocelli ..................................................... Deltocephalinae, 71
71(70) Clypellus narrow, more than 3X longer than greatest width, tapered and acute distally, extended well beyond lower margins of genae; ocelli more than 3X their own width from eyes (on Pinaceae) .............................. ................................................................... 72
71' Clypellus broad, less than 2X longer than greatest width, tapered or expanded distally, apex truncate, not extended beyond lower margins of genae; ocelli usually less than 2X their own width from eyes (on various plants) .......................................... ............................... 73
72(71) Crown spatulate, ocelli on face distant from dorsal margin; forewing veins pustulate ................................................................................................................................... Koebeliini
72' Crown rounded to face, ocelli near dorsal margin; forewing veins smooth ......... Grypotini
73(72) Macropterous or submacropterous, forewing apices tapered or rounded .................74
73' Brachypterous, forewing apices truncate ..................................................................... 100
74(73) Forewing with 2 anteapical cells, crossvein s absent; hind wing veins R4+5 and M1+2 often confluent preapically .................................................................................................... 75
74' Forewing with 3 anteapical cells, crossvein s present; hind wing veins R4+5 and M1+2 free ............... ............................................................................................................................... 76
75(74) Aedeagus with shaft movably articulated to base, 10th segment well sclerotized ................................ ............................................................ Doraturini (in part)
75' Aedeagus with shaft fused to base, 10th segment membranous .................... Macrostelini (=Balcluthini, Coryphaelini, Knight and Webb (1993))
76(74) Body depressed, head strongly produced, ocelli on crown near margin, very close to eye; 2nd valvulae strongly humped subbasally ...................................................... Hecalini
76' Body cylindrical, head not stongly produced, or if so, ocelli distant from eye or 2nd valvulae without subbasal hump ................................................................................. 78
77(76) Crown and face with distinct irregular longitudinal rugae, apex upturned in lateral view ............................................................................................................. 79
77' Crown and face shagreen, glabrous, or with transverse rugae, or crown with indistinct longitudinal striations, apex rarely upturned in lateral view ....................................... 80
78(77) Frons extended onto crown, postfrontal suture visible in dorsal view ............. Cerillini
78' Frons apparently entirely on face, postfrontal suture not visible in dorsal view ... Arrugadini
79(77) Head strongly produced, spatulate, ocelli and antennal bases closer to apex of crown than to eyes ......................................................................................... Occinirvanini
79' Head, if strongly produced, not spatulate, ocelli and antennal bases much closer to eye than to apex of crown ............................ ................................................................ 80
80(79) Forewing with anal margin straight, apex acute; male plates ligulate basally and largely concealed by 8th abdominal sternum .................................................... Acinopterini
80' Forewing with anal margin curved distad of claval apex; male plates widest at base, not or only slightly concealed by 8th abdominal sternum .................................................. 81
81(80) Male subgenital plates fused basally ......................................................... 82
81' Male subgenital plates free ....................................................................... 83
82(81) Male subgenital plates completely fused to each other and to valve ....... Goniagnathini
82' Male subgenital plates fused to each other basally, valve free .................. Tetartostylini
83(81) Male connective with well-developed, paired paraphyses; forewing R veins strongly recurved ................................................................................................... 84
83' Male connective without paired paraphyses or, if paraphyses present, forewing R veins not or only weakly recurved ................................................................................... 85
84(83) Margin of gena very broad, visible behind eyes in dorsal view .............. Scaphytopiini
84' Margin of gena not visible behind eyes in dorsal view ............................ Scaphoideini
85(83) Male connective forked anteriorly with apices divergent .................................. 85
85' Male connective linear or forked with apices closely adjacent ................................ 95
86(85) Anterior arms of connective strongly divergent, forming obtuse angle ................... 87
86' Anterior arms of connective forming acute angle ................................................ 88
87(86) Anterior margin of head transversely striated ........................................ Luheriini
87' Anterior margin of head without transverse striations ................................ Fieberiellini
88(87) Aedeagus with two gonopores, shaft either completely divided or bifid apically ........................................................................................................... Opsiini
88' Aedeagus with one gonopore, shaft, if divided, with only one process bearing gonoduct ... 89
89(88) Head with antennal ledges well-developed, margin often with a few transverse parallel carinae; ovipositor with dorsal sculptured area of 1st valvulae strigate .............................. 90
89' Head with antennal ledges obsolete, margin usually with at most a single well-developed carina; ovipositor with 1st valvulae granulose, imbricate, or reticulate ............................ 95
90(89) Head with distance between ocellus and eye equal to or greater than 2/3 narrowest width of clypellus; connective fused to aedeagus (Western N. America) .......................... Cochlorhinini
90' Head with distance between ocellus and eye less than half narrowest width of clypellus; connective not fused to aedeagus ........................................................................ 91
91(90) Prothoracic tibia flattened and expanded; forewing with appendix broad ....... Drabescini
91' Prothoracic tibia neither flattened nor expanded; forewing appendix narrow ................. 92
92(91) Antenna inserted near upper corner of eye, at least half as long as body .... Paraboloponini (=Bhatiini Lv. and Ne'amy (Zhang and Webb 1996))
92' Antenna inserted near middle or lower corner of eye, less than half as long as body ......... 93
93(92) Anterior margin of head with 2-3 distinct parallel transverse ridges ....................... 94
93' Anterior margin of head with numerous irregular transverse ridges or smooth .............. 95
94(93) Aedeagus joined to connective by thin membrane, more strongly attached to dorsal part of pygofer; first valvulae with dorsal sculptured area partially reticulate ........................ Adamini
94' Aedeagus closely articulated to connective; first valvulae with dorsal sculptured area entirely strigate ....................................................................................... Selenocephalini
95(93) Large green or yellow, forewing venation reticulate apically ............... Hypacostemmini
95' Small and brown, forewing venation entirely reticulate .............................................. Ianerini
95(89) Connective linear, fused to aedeagus; forewing often with 3 r-m crossveins; eye often emarginate mesially ............................................................................................... Deltocephalini
95' Connective Y-shaped, articulated to aedeagus; forewing with 2 or fewer r-m crossveins; eye with mesial margin entire ................................................................................. 96
96(95) Anterior arms of connective fused distally; forewing with crossvein r-m1 connected at or basad of R fork ................................................................................. Paralimnini
96' Anterior arms of connective free distally; forewing crossvein r-m1 connected distad of R fork ................................................................................................................ 97
97(96) Male 10th abdominal segment elongate ............................................ Cicadulini
97' Male 10th abdominal segment short ................................................................ 98
98(97) Crown depressed, produced medially; forewing with supranumerary reflexed costal veins ................................................................................................. Platymetopiini
98' Crown neither depressed nor produced, or if so, forewing without supranumerary reflexed costal veins ................................................................................................. 99
99(98) Male pygofer with dorsal margin strongly declivous, apex acute; aedeagus without paired processes .................................................................................... Stenometopiini
99' Male pygofer with dorsal margin more or less horizontal, apex rounded or with recurved process; aedeagus usually with paired processes ............................................ Athysanini
100(73) Ovipositor extended well beyond posterior margin of pygofer, second valvula with distinct subbasal dorsal hump ...................................................................................100
100' Ovipositor not or only slightly extended beyond posterior margin of pygofer, second valvula without dorsal subbasal hump ........................................................ Drakensbergenini
101(100) Aedeagus with shaft articulated to atrium ........................................ Doraturini
101' Aedeagus with shaft fused to atrium ............................................................. 101
102(101) Crown glabrous; aedeagus asymmetrical ................................. Anoterostemmini
102' Crown shagreen; aedeagus symmetrical ..........................................
Stenometopiini
[Copyright 1999, C. H. Dietrich, Illinois Natural History
Survey. All Rights Reserved.]
Other online keys:
Key to the Economically Important Leafhoppers of Australia
Key to Leafhoppers Associated with Vinyards in Texas
See also:
