The cicadas are a superfamily, the Cicadoidea, of insects in the order Hemiptera. They are in the suborder Auchenorrhyncha, along with smaller jumping bugs such as leafhoppers and froghoppers. The superfamily is divided into two families, the Tettigarctidae, with two species in Australia, and the Cicadidae, with more than 3,000 species described from around the world; many species remain undescribed.
Cicadidae, the true cicadas, is the largest family of cicadas, with more than 3,200 species worldwide. The oldest known definitive fossils are from the Paleocene, a nymph from the Cretaceous Burmese amber has been attributed to the family, but could also belong to the Tettigarctidae.
The Tettigarctidae, known as the hairy cicadas, are a small relict family of primitive cicadas. Along with more than 20 extinct genera, Tettigarctidae contains a single extant genus, Tettigarcta, with two extant species, one from southern Australia and one from the island of Tasmania. Numerous fossil species have been described from the Late Triassic onwards. Tettigarcta are the closest living relatives of the true cicadas.
The Cicadinae are a subfamily of cicadas, containing the translucent cicadas. They are robust cicadas and many have gaudy colors, but they generally lack the butterfly-like opaque wing markings found in many species of the related Tibiceninae.
Tosenini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae. There are at least 10 described species in Tosenini, found in the Palearctic and Indomalaya.
Tibiceninae is a historical subfamily name from the insect family Cicadidae. It was first used by Distant (1889). As of 2021, the name became unavailable to zoological nomenclature due to the suppression of its type genus Tibicen Berthold, 1827 by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. Cicada genera grouped at the subfamily level with genus Lyristes are generally referenced under the name Cicadinae Latreille, 1802.
Psaltoda is a genus of cicada found in eastern Australia. Originally described by Carl Stål, the type species is Psaltoda moerens known as the redeye, and P. plaga is a well-known species from eastern Australia, known as the black prince. Fifteen species are recognised. Relationships of the species with each other remains unclear.
The Fidicinini are a tribe of cicadas. There are at least 20 genera and 250 described species in Fidicinini, found in the Nearctic and Palearctic.
The Platypleurini are a tribe of cicadas from the Afrotropical and Oriental regions There are at least 30 genera and 240 described species in Platypleurini.
The Dundubiini are a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae, found in the Palearctic, Indomalaya, Australasia, and the Western Pacific. There are at least 180 described species in Dundubiini.
Okanagana is a genus of cicadas in the family Cicadidae. There are at 58 described species in Okanagana.
Cacama is a genus of cicadas in the family Cicadidae commonly known as cactus dodgers. There are about 12 described species in Cacama.
Diceroprocta is a genus of scrub cicadas in the family Cicadidae. There are at least 60 described species in Diceroprocta.
Cicadettinae is a subfamily of cicadas in the family Cicadidae. About 230 genera and 1,200 described species are placed in the Cicadettinae.
Tibicininae is a subfamily of cicadas in the family Cicadidae. There are 5 tribes and at least 140 described species in Tibicininae. They are found in the Neotropics, the Nearctic, and the Palearctic.
The Cicadini are a tribe of cicadas.
Burbunga is a genus of cicadas in the family Cicadidae, found in Australia. There are about 11 described species in Burbunga.
Leptopsaltriini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae. There are at least 200 described species in Leptopsaltriini, found in the Palearctic, Nearctic, and Indomalaya.
Tibicinini is a tribe of cicadas in the family Cicadidae. There are about 8 genera and at least 100 described species in Tibicinini, found in the Holarctic.
Yoyetta is a genus of cicadas in the family Cicadidae. The genus was erected in 2012 to accommodate nine Australian species previously assigned to the genus Cicadetta.
