They are characterized by their small size (around 4–5 mm in length), their broad forewings, the vein pattern on their wings, and a simple head structure.

Like in other derbids, the adults suck the sap of plants while the nymphs live mainly in decaying organic matter.

[5][2] Compared to other Derbidae, the forewings of Rhotanini are broad, the media always has 4 branches, there are 5 or 4 costal cells, and 6 or 7 veins of the cubitus-media complex reach the margin at the end of the wing.

When the insect are at rest, the wings are either carried in a roof-like (tectiform) position, or the surfaces of both forewings form a common plane, like in house flies.

Apart from the shape and the venation of the forewings, other features of the Rhotanini include: The head has a simple structure being in profile usually evenly rounded with two short, foliar ridges in front (facial carinae) which often meet at their base.

[5] The nymphal stages of some species have been collected from rotting wood and decaying palm fronds, where they probably feed on fungi.

[3] The current generic concept of the Rhotanini is based on the venation of the forewings and seems to match the distribution of the species.

Still, there are several taxonomic problems and questions, especially in the genera Rhotana and Saccharodite, and a comprehensive DNA analysis of the Rhotanini would be highly desirable to support and if necessary revise the generic concept of this tribe.

Species of Alara are characterised by the forewings having 5 costal cells which gradually decrease in size from the base to the tip of the wings.

Compared to other species of Rhotanini, the hindwings are unusually short and narrow and have a large stridulation plate.

The species of Alara are widely distributed in tropical parts of southern Asia and in neighbouring islands, up to northern Australia.

The species of Dichotropis can be easily recognized by the broad, white forewings which are covered by powder and the separated facial carinae which never meet (see illustration at right).

In some species, the forewings are held in a roof-like position when the insects are at rest, in others they form a common plane.

Species of Levu are mainly found on the islands of the western and central Pacific, including Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, the Philippines and Taiwan.

[2] The species of Muiralevu can be recognized by the forewings only having 4 costal cells, a feature only shared with the genus Saccharodite.

The head of Rhotana species is evenly rounded in profile with the 2 foliar ridges (facial carinae) usually meeting in front and above the eyes (see illustration at right).

The forewings are usually transparent, but patches may be covered with white powder (see Rhotana marmorata in the taxobox above at the top right).

Unlike most other species of Rhotanini, the profile of the head is not rounded but angulated with a triangular or rectangular outline.

These are widely distributed, ranging from Sri Lanka in the West over southern parts of mainland Asia to the Ryukyu Islands (southern Japan) in the North, the western Pacific islands like Micronesia and Fiji in the East, to northern and eastern Australia including Tasmania in the South.

Fennah redefined and redescribed the genus, based on Kirdaldy's description, stating that "the combination of diminutive size, a distinctly angulate profile of the head, virtually colourless hyaline tegmina, and a bright red body is sufficient to enable this genus to be recognised".

The first branch of the media does not fork like in other genera of the Rhotanini and as a consequence only 6 veins of the cubitus-media complex reach the margin at the end of the wing, a feature which is only shared by the genus Saccharodite.