Taphura Stål, 1862

Sanborn, Allen F., 2024, The cicada (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) fauna of the Lesser Antilles sensu lato with the description of two new species, two new combinations, and a key to species, Zootaxa 5497 (1), pp. 33-69 : 51

Genus Taphura Stål, 1862

Cicada (Taphura) Stål 1862: 20 .

Type species. Cicada misella Stål 1854: 243 ( Brazil, Minas Gerais).

Remarks. The genus was revised recently with a number of new species added and the range expanded to include Trinidad in the Lesser Antilles ( Sanborn 2017a). Species of the genus are small (body length 6–18 mm) and the males generally possess elaborate genitalia that make species determination relatively straight forward.

Diagnosis. The genus can be distinguished among the Lesser Antilles fauna by the head being wider than the pronotum and greater than the width of the mesonotum, eyes protruding beyond the anterior pronotum, postclypeus rounded in transverse section, lacking central sulcus. Pronotum shorter than mesonotum, trapezoidal with anterior margin narrower than lateral margins of pronotal collar. Fore wings hyaline, radial and radiomedial crossveins without infuscation. Basal cell longer than broad and unmarked. Fore wing costal margin straight to the middle where it curves distinctly. Male operculum small, not covering tympanal cavity or encapsulating meracanthus curving towards abdominal midline, opercula well separated along midline. Abdomen about as long as distance between apex of head and cruciform elevation in males but lengthy ovipositor makes the abdomen longer in females, abdominal segments with sides expanding laterally to tergite 4 where the abdomen begins narrowing posteriorly to the genitalia. Anal tube and/or pygofer basal lobes variable from simple to highly modified, uncus absent.