| 1 | 1 Some abdominal tergites with apexes pigmented (brown or black), the nymphal skeleton itself appearing banded; mesosternum and metasternum with or without a median low crest but without a prominent tubercle (Figs. ); genera Beameria, Neocicada, Melampsalta, Okanagana, Okanagodes, and Pacarina [western North American genera, not included in key below, but would segregate here: Clidophleps, Neoplatypedia, Platypedia, Tibicinoides?, Zammara] | 4 |
| 1' | Abdominal tergites not pigmented at their apexes, and if sub-apically pigmented, then not heavily so and nymphal skeleton not appearing strikingly banded; mesosternum and metasternum both with a prominent crest or tubercle (Figs. ); genera Diceroprocta, Magicicada, and Tibicen [western North American genera, not included in key below, but would segregate here: Cacama, Cornuplura?, Quesada, Zammara] | 2 |
| 2(1') | Three apical, metatibial, seta-bearing spines present (setae are born anteapically on the inner side of each tibial spine, associated with an articulating pit and slight swelling of the spine; when missing as a result of rough handling the pit and swelling can usually be located to confirm the original presence of a seta), the outer spine much larger than the inner two (Fig. ); first and third antennal segments about the same length, and both longer than the second (Fig. ) | Magicicada |
| 2' | Four to eight apical, metatibial seta-bearing spines present, the outer spine not the largest (Figs. ); first antennal segment longer than either second or third (Fig. ) | 3 |
| 3(2') | Mesotibiae without lateral seta-bearing spines above apex; metatibiae with 3 - 5 (usually 5 ) large, ventral, apical, seta-bearing spines (Fig. ); second abdominal sternite with a median, setiferous, triangular process (Fig. ); metasternal process large and usually strongly mounded (Fig. ) | Tibicen |
| 3' | Mesotibia with one or more lateral seta-bearing spines above apex; metatibiae with 4 - 8 (usually 6) large, ventral, apical, seta-bearing spines (Fig. ..); second abdominal sternite without a setiferous, triangular process (Fig..); metasternal process crest-like (Fig..) | Diceroprocta |
| 4(1) | Two large, apical, metatibial seta-bearing, spines present (Fig. ) (setae are born anteapically on the inner side of each tibial spine, associated with an articulating pit and slight swelling of the spine; when missing as a result of rough handling the pit and swelling can usually be located to confirm the original presence of a seta); three large, apical, mesotibial seta-bearing, spines present, the inner one longest and the outer two subequal in length (the outermost shorter than middle in some western species) | Okanagana |
| 4' | Three or more large, apical, metatibial and mesotibial seta-bearing spines present, the inner spine on both pairs of legs may be the longest | 5 |
| 5(4') | Three large, apical, metatibial seta-bearing spines present (sometimes two on one side), three or four large, apical mesotibial seta-bearing spines present, the inner spine longest on both pairs of legs (Figs. ); body length over 18 mm; antennal segment 1 slightly longer than or subequal to 2 | Okanagodes |
| 5' | Three or more large, apical, metatibial and mesotibial seta-bearing spines present, the inner one on the mesotibiae not the longest (Figs. ) | 6 |
| 6(5') | Body length over 18 mm; five large, apical, metatibial and mesotibial seta-bearing , spines present, the second from the inner longest, the outer spine smallest (Fig. ); antennal segment 1 obviously longer than 2, and 2 longer than 3 | Neocicada hieroglyphica |
| 6' | Body length under 18 mm; three or four large, apical, metatibial and mesotibial seta-bearing spines present (Figs. ); antennal segments 1 - 3 approximately the same length | 7 |
| 7(6') | Three large, apical, metatibial seta-bearing, spines present (Figs. ); fore tibiae with a single apical claw-like process (Figs. ); especially common in prairie areas | 8 |
| 7' | Four large, apical, metatibial seta-bearing spines present (Fig. ); apex of fore tibiae cleft, showing two prominent claw-like processes (Fig. ); especially common in mesquite areas | Pacarina puella |
| 8(7) | Mesonotum with an anterior, broad, transverse, brown band (Fig. ); triangular area around median ocellus (front between epicranial arms and fronto-clypeal suture) brown in strong contrast to the cuticle of the compound eyes (Fig. ); apex of fore femoral thumb in front of projected midline of femur (Fig. ) | Melampsalta calliope |
| 8' | Mesonotum without a basal, transverse, brown head; front between epicranial arms and fronto-clypeal suture not pigmented in strong contrast to the cuticle of the compound eyes (Fig. ); apex of fore femoral thumb behind projected midline of femur (Fig. ) | Beameria venosa |
| A | Terminal, ventral abdominal structures similar to those in Fig. , ninth sternite with a small central single bulbous lobe | Male |
| A' | Terminal, ventral abdominal structures similar to those in Fig. , eighth abdominal sternite with a pair of finger-like longitudinal processes at midline | Female |
| Revised 1 Apr. 2001 |