Flatidae Explained

Flatidae are a family of fulgoroid planthoppers. They are cosmopolitan in distribution and are distinguished from others in the superfamily by a combination of characters. Like all other planthoppers, they suck phloem sap of plants. Some species are known to communicate with vibrations through the plant stems.[1] Communication may be with mates, or with ants that tend the nymphs, protecting them and gathering honeydew secretions.[2] Adults of some species have brightly coloured forewings which are tougher and known as tegmina unlike the membranous hindwings which are used for flight. Although a few can be identified by their coloration, most species requires dissection and examination under a microscope with access to literature on already described species.[3]

There are two subfamilies within the family. In the subfamily Flatinae, the body of adults is flattened laterally and the tegmina are tent-like. In the Flatoidinae, the body is not laterally compressed and the tegmina are not as tent-like and sometimes held horizontally. The wing venation is distinctive in that the veins in the anal region are nodose, and the costal area has numerous cross veins.[4] The antennae are small and the first segment is collar-like and small. The second segment is longer and ends in a bulge and a flagellum arises from it. They have two ocelli. Nymphs have a tail of waxy filaments.

Subfamilies and genera

Genera within the family Flatidae include:[5] [6]

Flatinae

Auth.: Spinola, 1839; selected genera:

tribe Ceryniini Distant, 1906
tribe Flatini Spinola, 1839
tribe Nephesini Distant, 1906
tribe Phantiini Melichar, 1923
tribe Phromniini Distant, 1906
tribe Poekillopterini Kirkaldy, 1907
tribe Selizini Distant, 1906
tribe Sisciini Melichar, 1923

Flatoidinae

Auth.: Melichar, 1901

incertae sedis

External links

Notes and References

  1. Virant-Doberlet, Meta. Žežlina, Ivan. 2007. Vibrational Communication of Metcalfa pruinosa (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Flatidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am.. 100. 1. 73–82. 10.1603/0013-8746(2007)100[73:VCOMPH]2.0.CO;2. free.
  2. Pfeiffer, Martin. Linsenmair,K.E.. 2007. Trophobiosis in a tropical rainforest on Borneo: giant ants Camponotus gigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) herd wax cicadas Bythopsyrna circulata (Auchenorrhyncha: Flatidae). Asian Myrmecology. 1. 105–119.
  3. . 88 . 4 . 2005 . 464–481 . Keys to the families of Fulgoromorpha with emphasis on planthoppers of potential economic importance in the Southeastern United States (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha) . Stephen W. Wilson . 10.1653/0015-4040(2005)88[464:kttfof]2.0.co;2 . free .
  4. F. Muir . 1923. On the classification of the Fulgoroidea (Homoptera). . 5. 2. 205–247 .
  5. Bourgoin Th. (2013) Hemiptera Database - FLOW (Fulgoromorpha Lists on The Web): a world knowledge base dedicated to Fulgoromorpha. Version 8.
  6. https://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id17069/ BioLib.cz: family Flatidae Spinola, 1839 (retrieved 29 August 2020)
  7. Web site: The insects killing Fraser Island's pandanus population . Queensland Times . 26 January 2017 . 4 January 2021.
  8. Web site: Coghill . Jon . Rangers turn to tiny native wasp to save Fraser Island's iconic pandanus population . ABC News. . 29 October 2015 . 4 January 2021.

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