Hemiptera - Auchenorrhyncha (cicadas, planthoppers)

Forewings usually folded flat, partially overlapping at rest. Clavus short, ending a little beyond half-way along forewing and making a distinct angle with it. Apex of confluent anal veins of forewing reaching apex of clavus.

Separated from Issidae by difference in structures of the female genitalia and ovipositor. Highly brachypterous with the tegmina barely reaching over the first abdominal segments, some with forelegs expanded and/or head produced in front of eyes.

Most generalised and primitive fulgoroid species. Some genera have retained a third ocellus in the centre of the frons. Cixiids generally are brown or black with tegmina that are transparent with brown veins.

Presence of heavy granulations on the outer claval vein (Vein 1A); length of the apical segment of the rostrum which is longer than wide (as long as wide in Derbidae).

Hind tibia lacking mobile spur at apex; second segment of hind tarsi small with a single dark spine at each side; frons with single median carina, or lacking a carina; lacy-winged, cells clear between the veins; clavus of forewing without conspicuous granules.