Psylloidea
D. G. Pfeiffer
Department of Entomology
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg VA 24061-0319
Updated 25 March 1999
I. Families of Psylloidea (older aproach is to use 1 family, Psyllidae, with various subfamilies. These are now
elevated to family status):
- 1a. Vertex deeply cleft medially, anteriorly
(not to be confused with division between genal
cones .......... Carsidaridae
- 1b. Vertex not cleft anteriorly ........ 2
- 2a. Genae produced anteriorly as variously shaped cones;
frons covered by genae ventrally ....... 3
- 2b. Genae not so produced; frons not covered by genae
ventrally ......... 4
- 3a. Media and cubitus of forewing arising from a common
petiole; forewing usually rounded apically;
basal segment of metatarsus with two distal black
spines (rarely one - Arytainilla) ...... Psyllidae, e.g. pear psylla
- 3b. No common petiole for media and cubitus; media,
cubitus and radius arising from a common point; forewing usually angulate apically; basal segment
of metatarsus lacking spines ....... Triozidae, e.g. blackberry psyllid
- 4a. Vertex rounded downward anteriorly ...... Pauropsyllidae
- 4b. Vertex flat and horizontal .............. 5
- 5a. Vertex extended anteriorly into two flattened lobes
(not to be mistaken for genal cones);
vertex longer than broad ....... Liviidae
- 5b. Vertex with such lobes lacking; vertex not longer
than broad ....... Aphalaridae
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