• Uxantis Stål, C. 1870. Hemiptera insularum Philippinarum. Bidrag till Philippinska oarnes Hemipter-fauna. Öfversigt af Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens Förhandlingar. Stockholm 27: 607-776 [775] [first introduced as a subgenus of Atracis Stål 1866].

  Type species:

   Uxantis consputa Stål, 1870 by subsequent designation, see Banks, C.S. 1910. Rhynchota Palawanica Part 2 (Homoptera). Philippine Journal of Science. Section D. General Biology, Ethnology and Anthropology 5: 33-55 [47].

Introduction

This genus was synonymised with Atracis Stål by Medler (1988). Medler's action was based on Melichar's (1902) placement of the type species of Atracis, Flata pyralis Guérin-Méneville, into Uxantis. Unfortunately, Medler (1988) used the phrase "pyralis sensu Melichar" which implies that he believed Melichar's (1902) recognition of pyralis differed from that of previous authors. If this is the case, then the type species of Atracis is not the same species as the one Melichar (1902) transferred to Uxantis and Medler's (1988) synonymy is invalid. In any case, Medler's synonymy was a nomenclatural action rather than a taxonomic one. The species which were previously placed in Atracis were transfered to a new generic name, Staliana, by Medler and all species previously placed in Uxantis became species of Atracis. It is significant to note that Melichar (1923) listed F. pyralis as a species of Atracis rather than Uxantis. Because of the doubt about Melichar's (1902) identification of Flata pyralis, the different generic placement of the species by Melichar (1923) and the confusion to generic identities created by Medler's synonymy of Uxantis with Atracis, this synonymy is not followed here.

Distribution

States

Queensland

IBRA

Qld: Wet Tropics (WT)

Diagnosis

Genre caractérisé par la cellule subcostale (cellule limitée par les radius 1 et 2), courbée en arrière et en dehors et fermée par une nervure transversale droite ou arquée, elle est souvent assez large, quelquefois plus large que la cellule costale. Vertex à peine prolongé, droit en avant ou légèrement arrondi, rarement anguleux. Front allongé, présentant une carène médiane. Elytres plus ou moins hyalins, membrane costale large, plus large que la cellule costale, traversée par des nervures transversales simples régulières. Nervures de la cellule costale rarement simples, sans anastomoses; dans ce cas, la cellule médiane du clavus (cellules comprises entre les branches anales) est distinctement étranglée au milieu et ordinairement marquée par une courte nervure transversale. Une seule épine sur les tibias postérieurs (Melichar 1923).

ID Keys

Fletcher, M.J. (2005). Illustrated key to the genera of the family Flatidae found in Australia (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea) http://www1.dpi.nsw.gov.au/keys/fulgor/flatid/flat00.htm

Diagnosis References

Melichar, L. 1923. Homoptera. Fam. Acanaloniidae, Flatidae et Ricaniidae. Genera Insectorum 182: 1-185 [104]

General References

Medler, J.T. 1988. Types of Flatidae (Homoptera) IX Lectotype designations and three new genera for species in the Basel Museum. Entomologica Basiliensia 12: 83-91 [17–18]

Melichar, L. 1902. Monographie der Acanaloniiden und Flatiden (Homoptera) (Fortsetzung). Annalen des Naturhistorischen Hofmuseums in Wien 17: 1-253 [160]

Melichar, L. 1923. Homoptera. Fam. Acanaloniidae, Flatidae et Ricaniidae. Genera Insectorum 182: 1-185 [104]

History of changes

• Uxantis notata Distant, W.L. 1910. Rhynchotal Notes. L. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 8 5: 297-322 [317].

  Type data:

   Lectotype BMNH ♂ (coll: F.P. Dodd, 1907 - 54), Queensland.

  Subsequent designation references:

  Medler, J.T. 1990. Types of Flatidae (Homoptera) XIV. Walker and Distant types in the British Museum. Oriental Insects 24: 127–195 [175].

Introduction

This is the only representative of this genus in Australia. As with other Flatoidinae, it is cryptically coloured to blend with tree bark. The type specimens were collected by F.P. Dodd and most of his collecting was undertaken in the wet tropics of North Queensland (Monteith 1991) and this is the probable source of the material.

Distribution

States

Queensland

IBRA

Qld: Wet Tropics (WT)

Ecological Descriptors

All stages: phloem feeder.

Diagnosis

Vertex, pronotum and mesonotum very pale virescent, abdomen above more distinctly greenish ; vertex with three black spots, one at each basal angle, the other at apex; pronotum sparingly coarsely blackly punctate; mesonotum with sublateral black fasciae, which are furcate anteriorly; body beneath and legs very pale virescent ; basal margin and basal halves of lateral margins narrowly pale testaceous (this marginal coloration is absent in some specimens); tegmina pale greyish, opaque, the numerous veins and veinlets testaceous or fuscous brown, a series of small marginal piceous spots on posterior margin from apex of clavus, and these spots in smaller size, less distinct appearance, and less closely situate are continued round apical and along costal margins; wings creamy white, the veins more or less virescent; vertex broader than long, moderately concave, anteriorly transversely angulate, the margins ridged; face slightly longer than broad, the lateral margins ridged ; tegmina about two and a half times as long as broad, the costal margin a little waved, widest at base, moderately attenuated at apex, which is rounded, distinctly arched at base of costal margin. Long., excl. tegm., ♂ ♀ 7–8 mm.; exp. tegm. 24–27 mm (Distant 1910).

The male genitaila of the lectotype were illustrated by Medler (1990: Fig. 68).

Diagnosis References

Distant, W.L. 1910. Rhynchotal Notes. L. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 8 5: 297-322 [317–318]

Medler, J.T. 1990. Types of Flatidae (Homoptera) XIV. Walker and Distant types in the British Museum. Oriental Insects 24: 127–195 [195]

General References

Monteith, G.B. 1991. The Butterfly Man of Kuranda, Frederick Parkhurst Dodd. South Brisbane : Queensland Museum 1, 34 pp. [ISBN 0 7242 4481 6]

History of changes