Numbers
27 described spp. in 13 genera in our area, ~1450 spp. in ~300 genera worldwide
(1)(2); several species have been reported from the US in error; there are several undescribed spp. from so. US
(1)Identification
readily recognized by the presence of submarginal vein paralleling the wing margin
(1)
Nymphs: wax filaments bushy (vs. straight and forming bundles like watercolor paintbrushes in Issidae) --Dr Hamilton
Morphological comparison of described Flatidae north of Mexico, arranged by tribe.
Flatinae: Nephesini
The genera of this tribe, namely Flatormenis, Melormenis, and Ormenaria are arbitrary in their composition (as is the tribe itself).
Flatormenis saucia (Van Duzee, 1912): appears to be a complex of closely-related entities in the desert southwest.
Melormenis basalis (Walker, 1851): found only in Florida and Hawaii in the U.S.
Ormenaria barberi (Van Duzee, 1912): similar to F. proxima, but found only in desert southwest. orange legs; pruinosity often granulate.
Ormenaria rufifascia (Walker, 1851): highly distinctive species found only in FL, SC
Petrusa epilepsis (Kirkaldy, 1906): found only in Florida in the U.S.
Flatinae: Selizini
Members of this tribe generally require dissection for species-level determination. There are numerous undescribed genera and species in the U.S.
[no photos]
Cyarda melichari (Van Duzee, 1907)
[no photos]
Mistharnophantia acuta Doering & Shepherd, 1947
Mistharnophantia ajoensia Doering & Shepherd, 1947
Mistharnophantia angusta Doering & Shepherd, 1947
[no photos]
Mistharnophantia extensa Doering & Shepherd, 1947
Mistharnophantia sima Doering & Shepherd, 1947
[no photos]
Paradascalia edax (Kirkaldy, 1907): whether or not this species actually does occur in the U.S. is unclear.
Flatinae: Siphantini
A group endemic to the Indomalayan and Australian realms.
Siphanta acuta (Walker, 1851): introduced species on the west coast of the U.S.
Flatoidinae: Flatoidini
These cryptic flatids have the wings held horizontally. The compsition of the genera is largely arbitrary.
Flataloides scabrosus (Melichar, 1902): the most widespread member of this subfamily in the U.S.
Flataloides signatus (Melichar, 1902): it is not entirely clear what this species really is in relation to
F. scabrosus and
M. fusca. TX endemic.
Flatoides enota Van Duzee, 1923
Flatoidinus punctatus (Walker, 1851): present in the gulf states; diagnostically pointed head
Metcracis fusca (Van Duzee, 1908)
A number of species have seemingly been erroneously reported for the United States including Antillormenis contaminata, Flatoidinus acutus, and Pseudoflatoides tortrix as well as a number of Cyarda species. There are at least seven undescribed or unknown species in the U.S. with a number more likely to be undetected/overlooked in the desert southwest.
Range
worldwide (by far more diverse in the tropics)
(3); in our area, most diverse in the south, with only a few widely distributed species in n. US
(1)Habitat
above-ground portions of a wide variety of woody/semi-woody plants
(1)Remarks
Over all, taxonomic revision is needed for most of this family; no comprehensive global revision of the family has ever been done. The subfamilies, tribes, and genera are largely arbitrary.
