Membracidae

Frontoclypeus flat or convex. Distance from eye to base of forewing usually greater than half eye width (exceptions: Deiroderes and many Nicomiinae). Pronotum usually produced posteriorly over scutellum (exceptions: Endoiastinae, Nicomiinae, Deiroderes, Abelus, and Hemicentrus), often also with anterior, lateral, or dorsal projections. Scutellum usually concealed and reduced, if visible, posterior apex rounded, acuminate, emarginate, or grooved medially. Forewings with vein M fused with Cu basally (share common stem; exceptions: some Nicomia and some Smiliinae). Prothoracic trochanter and femur not fused. Male abdominal segment IX usually with lateral plates discrete from pygofer (exceptions: fused to pygofer in few members of various tribes; lateral plates absent in Anchistrotus and some Stegaspidini). Female pygofer not strongly produced posteroventrally. Nymph with abdominal tergum IX forming sheath around segment X, anal opening dorsal or posterior.

Afrotropical, Australian, Indomalayan, Neotropical, Nearctic, Palearctic, and Oceanic regions. All subfamilies are restricted to the New World, except for the large family Centrotinae, which is predominately Old World in distribution.

Membracidae