Flatinae

Distinguished from Flatoidinae (the other subfamily in Flatidae) by lateral body compression and tent-like tegmina posture; Flatoidinae have bodies that are not laterally compressed and hold their tegmina more horizontally. Within Flatidae, presence of parallel cross-veins along the costal margin of forewings separates Flatinae from Acanaloniidae, which have reticulate forewing venation without parallel cross-veins.

Adults have bodies that are distinctly flattened laterally. The tegmina (forewings) are held in a tent-like configuration over the body. Antennae are small, with the second segment elongated, ending in a bulge from which the flagellum arises. Two ocelli are present. Nymphs possess a tail of waxy filaments.

Tropical and subtropical regions; associated with vegetation where host plants occur. Specific microhabitat preferences vary by genus and species.

Cosmopolitan in tropical and subtropical regions. Recorded from all continents except Antarctica. Particularly diverse in tropical regions.

Phloem-feeding; adults and nymphs suck phloem sap from plants. Some species are polyphagous, feeding on multiple host plant species across different families.

• Coccoloba uvifera - hostseagrape
• Coffea arabica - hostcoffee
• Chrysobalanus icaco - hostcoco-plum
• Jasminum spp. - hostjasmine
• Avicennia germinans - hostblack mangrove

Nymphs produce waxy filaments from the tail. Development includes egg, nymph, and adult stages; specific details of instar number and duration vary by species and are not well documented for many taxa.

Some species communicate with vibrations transmitted through plant stems. Nymphs are often tended by ants, which protect them and collect honeydew secretions. Adults of some species may be approached and repositioned with gentle disturbance.

Phloem feeders that excrete honeydew, supporting sooty mold growth and ant associations. Some species have become agricultural pests through direct feeding damage and sooty mold development on crop plants.

Some species are agricultural pests. Petrusa epilepsis (formerly Ormenis marginata) has become a pest of coffee, citrus relatives, and other crops in the West Indies, causing damage through direct feeding and sooty mold development. Metcalfa pruinosa (citrus flatid planthopper) is a notable polyphagous pest species.

• FlatoidinaeOther subfamily in Flatidae; distinguished by lack of lateral body compression and more horizontal tegmina posture
• AcanaloniidaeFamily in Fulgoroidea with similar general form; distinguished by reticulate forewing venation without parallel cross-veins along costal margin

• planthopper
• phloem-feeder
• honeydew producer
• ant association
• tropical
• subtropical
• agricultural pest
• fulgoroid

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• Wikipedia
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Hemiptera | Beetles In The Bush | Page 7