Madagascar Flatidae (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha): state-of-the-art and research challenges

Abstract

The paper provides a historical review of the research on Flatidae in Madagascar and indicates future prospects. While the first two species of Madagascar Flatidae were described by Guérin-Méneville (1844), it was Signoret (1860) who made the first real attempt to enhance our knowledge of the Hemiptera fauna of Madagascar by describing several additional species. Over the following century and a half, several investigators have turned their attention to this group of insects, with the final number of species recorded for the island reaching 79. Despite this long history of research, it is evident that much still remains to be done. Detailed taxonomic research will allow the natural history of Madagascar and changes in the biological diversity of its endemic ecosystems to be better understood. This paper should be considered as an introduction to a complex study on the systematics and phylogeny of worldwide Flatidae planthoppers.

A unique camouflaged mimarachnid planthopper from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber

“…The answer is simple – pressure from predators. The behaviour of Flatoidinae from Madagascar, where the most numerous and bizarre forms are to be found (12 genera with 39 species 58,59,63 ) is virtually unknown, but among potential predators of these relatively huge hoppers several groups of vertebrates should be taken into consideration: lizards, chameleons, birds and small mammals 64 .…”

Planthopper (Hemiptera: Flatidae) Parasitized by Larval Erythraeid Mite (Trombidiformes: Erythraeidae)—A Description of Two New Species From Western Madagascar

“…A majority of Flatinae are flattened laterally, in contrast to Flatoidinae which hold their wings horizontally ( O’Brien and Wilson 1985 ). Madagascan flatid fauna presently consists of 17 genera with 39 species of Flatinae and 11 genera with 37 species of Flatoidinae and has been reviewed by Świerczewski and Stroiński (2013) .…”