Family Delphacidae - Delphacid planthoppers
The Family Delphacidae is the most economically important family of the Fulgoroidea. Many, if not all, species feed on grasses and some are serious pests of grass crops such as rice, sugarcane and cereals.
The movable spur at the base of the hind tarsi is diagnostic for the family and its structure is used to differentiate the major groups within the family. A key to the genera of Delphacidae from Australia and New Zealand was published by Fennah (1965) but only a small portion of the fauna was included.