A mechanism involving interaction of the metathoracic wing and third abdominal segment of derbid planthoppers was first discovered over a century ago, and interpreted as a stridulatory organ for sound production. Although referred to occasionally in later taxonomic works, the detailed morphology, systematic distribution, and behavioural significance of this structure have remained unknown, and its proposed use in sound production has never been corroborated. Here we examine the distribution and morphology of the supposed stridulatory organ of Derbidae and the recently-described vibratory mechanism of planthoppers - the snapping organ, across 168 species covering the entire taxonomic spectrum of the family. We find that many derbids possess snapping organs morphologically similar to those of other planthoppers, and find no evidence for the presence of tymbal organs, which were previously thought to generate vibrational signals in derbids. We find the supposed stridulatory mechanism to be widespread in Derbidae, and conclude that it provides several systematically and taxonomically important characters. Nevertheless, its morphology appears unsuitable for the production of sound, and we instead speculate that the mechanism plays a role in spreading chemical secretions or wax. Finally, we observe wax production by tergal glands in derbid larvae, and illustrate their external morphology in adults.

中文翻译：

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两种假定的振动声机理在去虱飞虱（半翅目：Fulgoromorpha：Derbidae）中的形态和可能的功能。

一个涉及百年前飞虱的后胸翼和第三腹节相互作用的机制是一个多世纪前首次发现的，并被解释为产生声音的扼杀器官。尽管在以后的分类学工作中偶尔提及，但该结构的详细形态，系统分布和行为意义仍然未知，并且从未证实其在声音生产中的拟议用途。在这里，我们研究了168种覆盖全科分类学物种的拟蝇科拟南芥器的分布和形态，以及最近描述的飞虱的振动机制-捕捉器官。我们发现许多德比动物都具有与其他飞虱形态相似的抢食器官，并没有证据表明存在以前认为会在动物竞标中产生振动信号的器官。我们发现假定的扰动机制在德比科中很普遍，并得出结论认为它提供了一些系统上和分类学上重要的特征。然而，它的形态似乎不适合产生声音，我们推测该机制在传播化学分泌物或蜡中起一定作用。最后，我们观察到了derbid幼虫中的腺体产生的蜡，并说明了它们在成虫中的外部形态。然而，它的形态似乎不适合产生声音，我们推测该机制在传播化学分泌物或蜡中起一定作用。最后，我们观察到了derbid幼虫中的腺体产生的蜡，并说明了它们在成虫中的外部形态。然而，它的形态似乎不适合产生声音，我们推测该机制在传播化学分泌物或蜡中起一定作用。最后，我们观察到了derbid幼虫中的腺体产生的蜡，并说明了它们在成虫中的外部形态。