我国地域辽阔，有着极其特殊而重要的生物区系。目前已记录的我国尖胸沫蝉科昆虫的种类仅107种，我国的区系严重不清。本项目拟对中国尖胸沫蝉科昆虫的种类进行系统的分类研究，将开展物种鉴定、形态描述、虫体图像采集、结构特征图绘制、检索表编制等研究工作，计划描记种类约20属170种；并将对约90个代表种的头部、胸部、翅脉及雌雄外生殖器结构的进化形态学及部分特征系统（包括触角感器、喙端感器、足端跗节等）的超微形态开展研究，进行特征的同源性分析，检验属、族、亚科的单系性，重建属及其以上分类阶元之间的系统发育关系，修订和完善高级分类系统，并分析物种及其以上分类阶元的地理分布格局，确定特有分布区及分布区之间的关系，探讨区系起源和演化的历史，以期建立中国尖胸沫蝉科昆虫的物种鉴定及多样性研究平台。研究结果对于沫蝉总科乃至半翅目昆虫的物种多样性起源与演化研究及其有害种类的生物学、生态学研究及防治均具有重要意义。

China has a vast territory with very diverse, special and important fauna. The aphrophorid fauna (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea: Aphrophoridae) of China is poorly known with only 107 described species. The present project is designed to study the taxonomy, phylogeny and biogeography of the Chinese Aphrophoridae. The taxonomic study will include specimen examinations, species identifications, morphological descriptions, dorsal habitus image collecting, structural illustrations, and identification key preparations. Totally around 170 species in more than 20 genera are expected to be dealt with. Evolutionary morphology of the head, thorax, wing venation and male and female genitalia and ultrastucture of antenna, rostral tip and pretarsus of around 90 species will be studied to test the monophyly of the genera and other higher taxa and to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships among the genera and other higher taxa. The distribution patterns of species and higher taxa, the areas of endemisms and the relationships among the areas of endemisms will be also analysed. Results from this project will provide valuable information for accute and authenctic species identifications of aphrophorid spittlebugs, for studies of evolution, biology, ecology and pest control of Aphrophoridae and for understanding of the origin and evolution of the Aphrophoridae and other families within Cercopoidea and the Hemiptera as well.