4 Introduction 



wings the hind wings are well developed, with a fairly constant arrange- 

 ment of the principal veins and cross veins. In the hind wing subcosta and 

 radius are coalesced for more than half of their length and media is un- 

 branched. Cubitus is typically three-branched, cubitus la coalescing for 

 almost its entire length with media, being separated only at its tip. The 

 vannal and jugal areas of the hind wing are considerably enlarged. 



The prothoracic and mesothoracic legs are usually simple, of the typical 

 homopterous pattern, with three-segmented tarsi. Infrequently the fore and 

 middle femora and tibiae may be flattened and considerably enlarged. The 

 hind legs have the femora and tibiae elongate, the latter usually with two 

 conspicuous spines on the outer margin. The calcar or spur at the apex of 

 the tibia is characteristic of this family. There are three distinct types of cal- 

 cars which Muir uses as the basis for the separation of the subfamilies and 

 tribes used in the present catalogue. The spine-like, subulate calcar is the 

 most primitive. The next stage is the solid cultrate spur, which may have 

 both surfaces convex or the inner surface concave. The most highly de- 

 veloped is the laminate or tectiform calcar, which is sometimes greatly en- 

 larged. 



The male genitalia are the court of last appeal in specific determinations 

 in this family; and the known genera need revision, with the characters of 

 the male genitalia used to determine their bounds and phylogenetic rela- 

 tionship. 



CLASSIFICATION ADOPTED 



The classification adopted in the present catalogue is a modification of 

 the one proposed by Muir in 1915 and in 1930. 



Family ARAEOPIDAE Metcalf 



Subfamily ASIRACINAE Fieber 



Subfamily ARAEOPINAE Metcalf 

 Tribe ALOHINI Muir 

 Tribe TROPIDOCEPHALINI Muir 

 Tribe ARAEOPINI Metcalf 



HISTORICAL RESUME 



This family was not recognized by the earliest European systematic en- 

 tomologists. But Fabricius recognized the group by describing the genus 

 Delphax in 1798, although the group was not given family rank until 

 1815, when Leach so recognized it. The systematic entomologists of the 

 first half of the nineteenth century described the more common forms. 

 Notable contributions to the taxonomy of the family were made by La- 

 treille, Burmeister, Boheman, Herrich-Schaffer, Germar, Say, Guerin- 

 Meneville, Spinola, Amyot and Serville. Fieber was the first to recognize 

 the importance of the male genitalia for specific determinations, and his 



