Genus Taphura Stål, 1862

Cicada (Taphura) Stål 1862: 20 .

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

Remarks. A number of new species were added to the genus and range extensions for multiple species distributions were included in a recent generic revision (Sanborn 2017a). Species of Taphura are characterized by their relatively small size (body length 6–18 mm) and the elaborate male genitalia displayed by most species. The genitalic differences permit species to be diagnosed easily.

Distribution. The genus ranges over much of South America including references to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, and Venezuela (Metcalf 1963b; Duffels & van der Laan 1985; Dorval et al. 2011; Sanborn 2011a; 2013; 2016a; 2017a; 2018; 2019a; 2020; Sanborn & Heath 2014).