White Breasted Nuthatch

by | Dec 20, 2017 | Nuthatches

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Flatid nymph from Assam, India
Ormenoides venusta nymph
A small clip showing a Flatid nymph of about 4 to 5mm walking

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
  • subtribe Flatina Spinola, 1839
  • subtribe Lawanina Melichar, 1923
  • subtribe Phyllyphantina Melichar, 1923
  • subtribe Scarpantina Melichar, 1923
  • subtribe Siphantina Melichar, 1923
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

References

  1. ^ Virant-Doberlet, Meta; Žežlina, Ivan (2007). "Vibrational Communication of Metcalfa pruinosa (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Flatidae)" (PDF). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 100 (1): 73–82. doi:10.1603/0013-8746(2007)100[73:VCOMPH]2.0.CO;2.
  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.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Stephen W. Wilson (2005). "Keys to the families of Fulgoromorpha with emphasis on planthoppers of potential economic importance in the Southeastern United States (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha)". Florida Entomologist. 88 (4): 464–481. doi:10.1653/0015-4040(2005)88[464:kttfof]2.0.co;2.
  4. ^ F. Muir (1923). "On the classification of the Fulgoroidea (Homoptera)" (PDF). Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society. 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. ^ BioLib.cz: family Flatidae Spinola, 1839 (retrieved 29 August 2020)
  7. ^ "The insects killing Fraser Island's pandanus population". Queensland Times. 26 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  8. ^ Coghill, Jon (29 October 2015). "Rangers turn to tiny native wasp to save Fraser Island's iconic pandanus population". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 4 January 2021.

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