The diversity of stenocranine planthoppers and their reported host plants is reviewed and discussed with particular reference to the New World fauna. A new species of Obtusicranus and two new genera (Frameus n. g. with 5 new species, Tanycranus n. g. with 1 new species) are described and illustrated. These taxa are the first stenocranine planthoppers known from Mexico and South America. Members of Frameus and Tanycranus are remarkable for having a greatly elongated head. A key to New World genera of stenocranine planthoppers and keys to species for the genera Obtusicranus and Frameus are provided. Stenocranus maculipes (Berg) described from Argentina is not a stenocranine, but is in the Delphacini and is here referred to incertae sedis. Stenocranus luteivitta (Walker) is not a Stenocranus, and is here referred to Delphacodes. The specimen reported by Hamilton (2006) from Illinois as the Asian genus Terauchiana is here found to be Kelisicranus arundiniphagus.