Flatidae | |
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adult bugs and nymphs ( Flatida rosea ) Ankarana Reserve, Madagascar | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hemiptera |
Suborder: | Auchenorrhyncha |
Infraorder: | Fulgoromorpha |
Superfamily: | Fulgoroidea |
Family: | Flatidae Spinola, 1839 |
Subfamilies | |
Flatidae are a family of fulgoroid planthoppers. [1] 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. [2] Communication may be with mates, or with ants that tend the nymphs, protecting them and gathering honeydew secretions. [3] 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. [4]
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. [5] 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.
Genera within the family Flatidae include: [6] [7]
Auth.: Spinola, 1839; selected genera:
Auth.: Melichar, 1901