INTRODUCTION 
The present catalogue of the Family Derbidae forms Part 4 of Fascicle 
IV of the General Catalogue of the Hemiptera of the World, which is de- 
voted to the Superfamily Fulgoroidea. 
CHARACTERS OF THE FAMILY DERBIDAE 
The Family Derbidae is one of the larger families of the Fulgoroidea. The 
present catalogue contains 111 genera and 733 species. This family includes 
some of the smallest fulgoroids as well as a number of medium sized species. 
The head is usually small and greatly compressed. The vertex and frons 
are generally greatly reduced, sometimes represented only by the elevated 
carinate margins which are contiguous on the median line. No known genera 
have the head produced into a distinct cephalic process as in many other 
fulgoroids, but the greatly compressed heads frequently project for a con- 
siderable distance in front of the eyes. The genae sometimes bear lamellate 
subantennal processes. The compound eyes are frequently relatively very 
large, often constituting the larger portion of the head. Sometimes, however, 
they are greatly reduced. The paired lateral ocelli are usually conspicuous 
and are situated on the lateral area of the head in front of the compound 
eyes. The antennae are nearly always small, with a short terete basal seg- 
ment and a slightly larger second segment which is generally pear-shaped 
and bears an elongate terminal flagellum. Sometimes the antennae are more 
elaborate, and in the genus Otiocerus Kirby and related genera the antennae 
have one or two vermiculate appendages on the basal segment. The labium 
is generally elongate, with the terminal segment short or minute. 
The thorax is usually conspicuous. The pronotum is generally short, with 
the lateral areas sometimes developed into laminate processes called shoul- 
der keels which apparently protect the antennae in repose. The mesonotum 
is nearly always large, without conspicuous carinae. The legs are slender, 
frequently quite elongate. The second segment of the hind tarsi is large, with 
a row of spines at the apex. 
The size of the tegmina is quite variable, but the condition is always 
macropterous. Sometimes the tegmina are barely as long as the abdomen, 
but in certain of the Zoradinae they are extremely elongate, several times 
as long as the abdomen. In many genera the tegmina are broad, being fre- 
3 
cm 1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
SciE 
11 
14 
