Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Arphia Genus Group D. Otte, 1984
tribe Arphiini D. Otte, 1995
Identification
Mostly small to medium sized species. In many ways similar to the Hippiscini, but generally more slender, often with bodies deeper than wide, usually with the crest of the pronotum well-developed (sometimes quite high) and cut only once or not at all). Antennae often rather thick. Coloring usually almost plain in grays or browns, and often speckled, but sometimes with one to three dark bands across the tegmina (usually broken or irregular and ill-defined, but sometimes solid). Hind wings are usually colored yellow to pink or red, rarely blue (not north of Mexico), with a dark cross band usually curving around the outer margin and with a long spur projecting toward the base near the front margin. Hind tibiae most often brownish, yellowish, green, or blue, occasionally black (not reddish). The male epiphalus is not trilobed toward the ends, but rather "normally" bilobed. Nearly all species can crepitate with a buzz or continuous crackling sound (but apparently there are some exceptions).
Range
North America to northern South America
Remarks
Members of the tribe Chortophagini have often been been considered closely akin to members of this tribe, and they are rather similar in morphology. However, molecular studies imply that they are not closely related. Chortophagini differ from Arphiini in having wings not bightly colored with dark band indicated at most by cloudy dark coloring (or bright blue and black in one species).
The Arphiini are probably most closely akin to the Hippiscini.