AUSTRALIAN LEAF-HOPPERS (Jassoidea, Homoptera) 
Part 6.^ 
PENTHIMIIDAE. 
By J. W. Evans, M.A., F.R.E.S. 
(Text-figure 1.) 
The Penthimiiclae are a family of leaf-hoppers of world-wide distribution, 
representatives of the genus Penthimm Germar occurring in every one of the major 
zoogeographical regions. In 1923 Baker erected the family Thaumatoscopidae, which 
presumably in addition to Thav/matoscopus Kirk, was intended to include the closely 
related genus Vulturmis Kirk. Although the heads of species in the genus Thaumato- 
scopus which are apically foliaceous, dift'er markedly from those of species in the 
genus Penthimia, which are obtusely rounded between the declivous crown and the 
ventral siu’face of the head, there is little doubt that the two genera are closely related. 
Intermediate forms occur in Vultimms Kirk, and Neovulturnus gen. nov. Apart from 
occipital characters, the venation of the tegmina and the structure of the hind tibiae 
and male genitalia, arc so similar in all four genera, that there seems no good reason 
why even a sub-family of the Penthimiidae should be erected to hold the genera 
previously included in the Thaumatoscopidae. 
Such few representatives of this family as occur in Australia appear to be 
confined to Queensland and New South Wales, being especially abundant in the 
former. This distribution suggests that their establishment in this continent is of 
comparatively recent date. 
PENTHIMIA Germar. 
Mag. Ent. 4; 46, 1821. 
The head ventrally is flat longitudinally, slightly convex transversely and 
the labium is short. The lateral frontal sutures are distinct above, as well as below, 
the antennal ledges ; the antennal ledges are prominent and the antennal pits shallow. 
Dorsally the head is declivous, the apical margin is evenly rounded and the anterior 
third medianly, is occupied by the hind portion of the frons. The ocelli which are 
situated close to the hind margin of the frons are closer to the eyes on each side than 
to each other. 
♦Previous parts in this series appeared in the Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Aust. vs. 57, 58 (1933- 
1934), and in the Papers of the Roy. Soc. Tas. for 1935-1936. 
