The taxonomy of the deltocephaline leafhopper tribe Faltalini (13 genera, 63 species) is revised. A key to all genera and keys to species for each genus are provided. All genera are described and at least one species of each genus is illustrated including images of the habitus, male and female genitalia, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of the head, face, and other characters. The new genera Dietrichana n.gen. [type species D. pampas n. sp.] and Paraclorindaia n.gen. [type species P. pinguis n. sp.] are described and the following 36 new species are described: Ackbaria jujuyensis n. sp. [Argentina], A. ojosverdes n. sp. [Argentina], Aequcephalus laplata n. sp. [Chile], Bonamus jussaral n. sp. [Brazil], Clorindaia obrienorum n. sp. [Uruguay], C. otamendi n. sp. [Argentina], Dietrichana pampas n. sp. [Argentina], Faltala catalanoae n. sp. [Argentina, Uruguay], F. paradellae n. sp. [Argentina], F. viscacha n. sp. [Argentina, Uruguay], Hecullus mexicanus n. sp. [Mexico], Kramerana saltensis n. sp. [Argentina], Paraclorindaia pinguis n. sp. [Argentina, Uruguay], P. vesperis n. sp. [Argentina], Tenucephalus admirabilis n. sp. [Argentina], T. bartletti n. sp. [Peru], T. brevilamina n. sp. [Argentina], T. cerrado n. sp. [Brazil], T. ecuadorensis n. sp. [Ecuador], T. flagellifer n. sp. [Peru], T. heppneri n. sp. [Peru], T. iguazu n. sp. [Argentina], T. interstinctus n. sp. [Peru], T. johnsoni n. sp. [Brazil], T. lingulatus n. sp. [Bolivia, Peru], T. manuensis n. sp. [Peru], T. misiones n. sp. [Argentina], T. musettiae n. sp. [Brazil], T. nielsoni n. sp. [Brazil], T. novafriburgo n. sp. [Brazil], T. parana n. sp. [Argentina], T. spectabilis n. sp. [Peru], T. takiyae n. sp. [Brazil, Peru], T. umbrinus n. sp. [Brazil], T. viperinus n. sp. [Argentina], and Virganana danasensis n. sp. [Ecuador]. The new combinations Paraclorindaia brasileira (Zahniser) n.comb. [transferred from Clorindaia] and Tenucephalus amabilis (Linnavuori & Heller) n.comb. [transferred from Bonamus] are recognized. A phylogenetic analysis based on 51 morphological characters scored for 42 taxa including two outgroup taxa was performed. The resulting phylogeny resolved Faltalini as monophyletic, but the tribe remains difficult to diagnose because it encompasses a large amount of morphological diversity in characters traditionally used to define tribes of Deltocephalinae including head morphology, wing length and venation, and male genitalia. Despite this diversity, members of the tribe share the following characters: 1) phragma of male genital capsule partly developed into sclerotized plates or setose bulbous lobes (exception: Acrolithus); 2) first valvula shape relatively straight; 3) first valvula dorsal sculpturing separated from dorsal margin by unsculptured band; 4) first valvula dorsal sculpturing pattern maculose, with maculae separate or only slightly overlapping, or granulose; 5) first valvula with distinctly delimited ventral sculptured area; and 6) second valvula without dorsal teeth. Two major clades within the tribe were resolved and strongly supported, consisting of (Bonamus, Tenucephalus) and (Hecalocorica, (Hecullus, (Acrolithus, (Ackbaria, (Aequcephalus, Dietrichana, Virganana, Clorindaia, Faltala (Kramerana, Paraclorindaia)))))). A stepwise evolution of brachyptery in the latter clade is suggested by the phylogeny, beginning with evolution of subbrachypterous females in Hecullus and Acrolithus and culminating in completely brachypterous males and females in the monophyletic “Faltala group” of eight genera. It is hypothesized that a transition from an ancestral forested habitat to an open or grassland habitat facilitated the evolution of brachyptery. The hindwings and associated thoracic structures of eight species of Faltalini and three other Deltocephalinae were imaged with SEM. Brachyptery in Cicadellidae and other insects are briefly reviewed and discussed considering the hypothesis proposed here.

Aims: Mexico harbours a diverse fauna comprising more than 1,400 leafhopper species, 60% of which appear to be strictly endemic, with many apparently restricted to particular habitats and host plants. The aims of this study were to identify areas of high species richness and endemism, and determine the biogeographic affinities of species in the diverse arboreal tribe Athysanini to provide data useful for conservation prioritization.Location: Mexico.Methods: A data set of 643 historical occurrence records based on authoritatively identified specimens from museums, recent fieldwork, literature and digital repositories was analysed. Analyses of species richness and areas of endemism were conducted using geographic information systems.Results: A total of 164 species belonging of 50 genera were included, of which 145 species of 31 genera are considered to be endemic. The Mexican state of Guerrero yielded the most species records (48%). The highest numbers of taxa and endemic species were concentrated along the Mexican Transition Zone (MTZ) within which the Trans‐Mexican Volcanic Belt (TVB) province had the most species records. Endemicity analyses showed two different geographical patterns but similar species richness weights with overlapping values over the MTZ. Distribution across vegetation types was not uniform, with most athysanine species concentrated in the dry tropical forest (65%). Species were documented at elevations between sea level and 3,200 m a.s.l. with three altitudinal preference classes. Conservation assessments applying IUCN criteria categorized a majority of species (145) as endangered or critically endangered.Main conclusions: Our findings suggest that most identified areas of high species richness throughout the territory have predominantly endemic taxa. Distributional patterns found are non‐random, influenced by richness and endemism values over the TVB province and in the MTZ with a variable dispersion among species. Data highlight a greatly threatened status by habitat loss, remarking an urgent need for an improved conservation framework.

Recientemente se ha encontrado una nueva plaga invasiva en el sur de Puerto Rico. Este es el primer registro de la especie en el hemisferio occidental. Se observó el mismo afectando líneas de algodón, berenjenas y algodón silvestre. Se necesita más investigación para comprender los impactos potenciales de A. bigutulla en la isla.

Tropical forests cover 7% of the earth's surface and hold 50% of known terrestrial arthropod species. Alarming insect declines resulting from human activities have recently been documented in temperate and tropical ecosystems worldwide, but reliable data from tropical forests remain sparse. The sap-sucking tribe Athysanini is one herbivore group sensitive to anthropogenic perturbation and the largest within the diverse insect family Cicadellidae distributed in America's tropical forests. To measure the possible effects of deforestation and related activities on leafhopper biodiversity, a survey of 143 historic collecting localities was conducted to determine whether species documented in the Mexican dry tropical forests during the 1920s to 1940s were still present. Biostatistical diversity analysis was performed to compare historical to recent data on species occurrences. A data matrix of 577 geographical records was analysed. In total, 374 Athysanini data records were included representing 115 species of 41 genera. Historically, species richness and diversity were higher than found in the recent survey, despite greater collecting effort in the latter. A strong trend in species decline was observed (−53%) over 75 years in this endangered seasonally dry ecosystem. Species completeness was dissimilar between historic and present data. Endemic taxa were significantly less important and represented in the 1920s–1940s species records. All localities surveyed in the dry tropical forest are disturbed and reduced by modern anthropogenic processes. Mexico harbours highly endemic leafhopper taxa with a large proportion of these inhabiting the dry forest. These findings provide important data for conservation decision making and modelling of distribution patterns of this threatened seasonally dry tropical ecosystem.

For the first time in the Palaearctic Region, the New World leafhopper genus Draeculacephala Ball (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae) has been recorded in France (Pyrenées-Orientales) and Spain (Catalonia). The species present in both countries is Draeculacephala robinsoni Hamilton 1967, among the most common and widespread species of the genus Draeculacephala in eastern North America. Comments on the identification of this species are presented. The species already seems to be firmly established in the region since it has been found in 11 different sites with a maximum distance of 86 km between them. Since the genus has been reported to be a vector of plant pathogens including Xylella fastidiosa its further spread in Europe should be closely monitored.

Most Neotropical forest-dwelling leafhopper species are rare and exhibit limited distributions. The Mexican leafhopper fauna is known to be highly diverse and identification of genera and species is difficult because no attempts have been made to provide comprehensive identification tools for the fauna. Here, a dichotomous key to all genera recognized within Mexico of the diverse but little studied leafhopper tribe Athysanini is provided. Spinulana josefinae Pinedo-Escatel sp. n. is described and illustrated based on specimens collected in the dry tropical forest of Oaxacan mountains. A total of 46 genera and 146 species are now recognized in the checklist of Athysanini of Mexico. Notes on type repositories, distributional data and maps, and selected references are provided.