Flatidae


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. Communication may be with mates, or with ants that tend the nymphs, protecting them and gathering honeydew secretions. 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.
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. 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:

[Flatinae]

Auth.: Spinola, 1839; selected genera:
;tribe Ceryniini Distant, 1906Adelidoria Metcalf, 1952Adexia Melichar, 1901Bythopsyrna Melichar, 1901Cerynia Stål, 1862
;tribe Flatini Spinola, 1839
;tribe Nephesini Distant, 1906
  • subtribe Cryptoflatina Melichar, 1923
  • * Cryptoflata Melichar, 1901
  • * Geisha Kirkaldy, 1900
  • * Metcalfa Caldwell & Martorell, 1951
  • * Ormenaria Metcalf & Bruner, 1948
  • * Ormenoides Melichar, 1923
  • subtribe Nephesina Distant, 1906
  • * Neomelicharia Kirkaldy, 1903
  • * Nephesa Amyot & Audinet-Serville, 1843
  • subtribe Phaedolina Melichar, 1923
  • * Phaedolus Karsch, 1890
  • subtribe Pseudoflatina Melichar, 1923
  • * Caesonia Stål, 1866
  • * Colgar Kirkaldy, 1900
  • * Colgaroides Distant, 1910 - Planthoppers
  • * Dalapax Amyot & Audinet-Serville, 1843
  • * Gyaria Stål, 1862
  • * Gyariella Schmidt, 1924
  • * Pauliana Lallemand, 1950
  • * Rhinophantia Melichar, 1901
;tribe Phantiini Melichar, 1923Mesophantia Melichar, 1901Microflata Melichar, 1901Phantia Fieber, 1866
;tribe Phromniini Distant, 1906Dermoflata Melichar, 1901Flatida White, 1846 Flatina Melichar, 1901Flatosoma Melichar, 1901Paraflata Melichar, 1901Poeciloflata Melichar, 1901
;tribe Poekillopterini Kirkaldy, 1907Poekilloptera Latreille, 1796
;tribe Selizini Distant, 1906Jamella Kirkaldy, 1906 Seliza Stål, 1862
;tribe Sisciini Melichar, 1923Siscia Stål, 1870

Flatoidinae

Auth.: Melichar, 1901Atracis Stål, 1866Atracodes Melichar, 1902Bochara Distant, 1906Cerfennia Stål, 1870Cisatra Melichar, 1923Dendrona Melichar, 1923Flataloides Metcalf, 1938Flatarina Metcalf & Bruner, 1948Flatarissa Metcalf & Bruner, 1948Flatoides Guérin-Ménéville, 1844Flatoidessa Melichar, 1923Flatoidinus Melichar, 1923Flatosaria Melichar, 1923Franciscus Distant, 1910Gaja Distant, 1906Lichena Melichar, 1901Lichenopsis Schmidt, 1912Melichitona Metcalf, 1952Paraflatoides Melichar, 1923Phalaenomorpha Amyot & Audinet-Serville, 1843Porophloeus Melichar, 1902Pseudoflatoides Metcalf, 1938Uxantis Stål, 1870Uysanus Distant, 1908

''[incertae sedis]''

Afrexoma Fennah, 1976Afrophantia Fennah, 1958Afrormenis Fennah, 1958Amasha Medler, 1992Anatracis Fennah, 1958Anzora Medler, 1986Bahuflata Dlabola, 1979Betracis Medler, 1988Boretsis Medler, 1996Brysora Medler, 2000Budginmaya Fletcher & Moir, 2009Catracis Medler, 1988Comnar Medler, 1988Cromgar Medler, 2000Cromnella Fennah, 1969Cryomna Medler, 2000Cyclopterum Gnezdilov & O'Brien, 2014Demina Medler, 2000Desanta Medler, 2000Diastracis Medler, 1988Dixamflata Stroinski, Malenovský & Swierczewski, 2016Dworena Medler, 1986Erotana Medler, 2000Eugyaria Synave, 1962Falcophantis Fletcher, 1988Garanta Medler, 2000Humgar Medler, 2001Ijagar Medler, 2000Insulume Medler, 1999Karrama Medler, 1988Kesaflata Stroinski, Malenovsky & Swierczewski, 2016Kirkamflata Swierczewski, Malenovsky & Stroinski, 2014Lasura Medler, 1992Lemaria Medler, 1988Madoxychara Stroinski & Swierczewski, 2013Malleja Medler, 1990Menora Medler, 1999Metcracis Medler, 1993Miniscia Medler, 1991Narowalenus Shakila, 1991Neocalauria Synave, 1957Neomistaria Yang & Chen, 2015Neosephena Medler, 2000Neovariata Shakila, 1984Ortracis Medler, 1996Paracalauria Synave, 1962Parasiphanta Fletcher, 1988Perinetella Synave, 1956Persepolia Dlabola & Safavi, 1972Peyrierasus Stroinski & Swierczewski, 2013Phaiophantia Lindberg, 1958Planata Medler, 1999Riodeorolix Lindberg, 1956Safroka Medler, 2001Samcerus Medler, 1993Saurana Medler, 1992Scarpuna Medler, 2006Shadaka Medler, 2000Soares Stroiński & Świerczewski, 2012Sogalabana Stroiński & Świerczewski, 2014Sosephena Medler, 1990Staliana Medler, 1988Stenume Medler, 1999Talopsus Medler, 1989Taparella Medler, 1989Tisia Dlabola, 1981Tormenis Medler, 1999Trisephena Medler, 1990Umidena Medler, 1992Walena Medler, 1999