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A GENERIC SYNOPSIS OF THE CICADIDiE. 



By Wm. H. Ashmead, 



Family I. CICADID/E. 



Head usually short and broad, somewhat triangular, the front convex. Ocelli 3 

 on the disk of the vertex. Thorax large, broad. Scutellum moderate. Wings long, 

 vitreous or opaque, with sixteen cells or areas, or with numerous irregular net-like 

 meshes. Tegulae present. Anterior coxje oblong, prismatic, inserted in the anterior 

 angle of the prostethium ; middle and posterior cox?e shorter, sub-conic, sub-contigu- 

 ous, not reaching the sternum. Anterior femora thickened, toothed beneath. Tibiae 

 cylindric. Tarsi two or three jointed ; no pulvilli between the claws. Males with a 

 pair of stridulating organs at the base of the abdomen, called drums or tympana ; 

 consisting of cavities, more or less completely covered with parchment-like lids, 

 termed the opercules. 



Following Amyot et Serville, the family may be divided into three 

 subfamilies of nearly equal value as follows : 



TABLE OF SUBFAMILIES. 

 Fore wings having but sixteen cells or areas. 



Elytra entirely membranous Subfamily I. CICADIN.^. 



Elytra more or less coriaceous or opaque Subfamily II. TOSENIN^E. 



Fore wings having their posterior half composed of a net-work of hexagonal meshes, 

 numerous and irregular Subfamily III. POLYNEURIN.^. 



Of these subfamilies, the last two are apparently strictly tropical 

 forms, neither being represented in the European or North American 

 faunas. 



Subfamily- I. CICADINiE. 



This group is an extensive one and species have been described in 

 it from all parts of the world. Many species have already been de- 

 scribed from our fauna, and others yet remain undescribed. 



The following table compiled principally from the writings of 

 Amyot et Serville, Fieber, Stal, and Uhler, comprises the genera found 

 in Europe and North America, and will, it is hoped, enable the student 

 to readily recognize them. 



TABLE OF GENERA. 



Prothorax not dilated at sides 2. 



Prothorax dilated at sides. 



Lateral dilation of the prothorax angulated. 



Ulnar veins contiguous at base ; interior ulnar area narrowed posteriorly 



G. I. Zammara, A. et S. 

 Ulnar veins somewhat distant at base ; the lateral margins of the interior ulnar 



areas parallel G. 2. Odopoea, Stiiel. 



Lateral iliiatioiis of the prothorax rounded. 

 Meta>iei nuiii cL-\ auU. 



