Cicadas

Taurella Moulds, 2012

Type species: Melampsalta forresti Distant, 1882

Fauna Portal Genus Number: 996

(after Moulds 2012): Small cicadas. Distinguished by the broad head that is clearly wider than the mesonotum and the lengths of the three distal vein sections that make up the inner margin of the radial cell which are all of similar length. Males have very characteristic opercula that are slender and sickle-like in shape, clearly not developed around the meracanthus and not meeting. There are usually 7–8 timbal ribs. The male genitalia have claspers that are very distinct, downturned and beak-like in lateral view with a 'horizontal' subapical horn clearly visible when viewed from above. Further, the upper pygofer lobes are exceptionally long and slender.