Identity of Baker's species described in the Oriental leafhopper genus Pythamus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) with description of a new genus.

Baker's (1915) species described in the Oriental leafhopper genus Pythamus Melichar are revised. One species, Pythamus melichari Baker 1915, is placed in a new genus, Pythochandra Wei & Webb, gen. n.. The four varieties of P. melichari described by Baker (1915, 1923) (borneensis, bilobatus, decoratus and singaporensis) are elevated to species level and placed in the new genus stat. n., comb. n.. All species are briefly described and a key is provided for their separation. Two other species, Pythamus productus Baker and P. decoratus Baker, known only from females, are retained in Pythamus pending further studies.

Revision of the Oriental leafhopper genus Destinoides Cai & He (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Ledrinae), with a new synonym and two new combinations.

The leafhopper genus Destinoides Cai & He is revised to include two species D. latifrons (Walker 1851, Ledra) n. comb. and D. conspicuus (Distant 1907, Petalocephala) n. comb. Destinoides fasciata Cai & He, 2000 is placed as a junior synonym of D. latifrons, syn. nov. These two species are redescribed and illustrated in detail and a key is given based on the males.

Revision of the leafhopper genus Smyga (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae).

The leafhopper genus Smyga Dworakowska (Typhlocybinae, Empoascini) is reviewed and a new species, S.brevipenis Webb & Xu, sp. nov. from Brunei and Malaysia, is described based on specimens previously identified as "aberrant specimens" of Smygadistincta Dworakowska. Images of the types of S.brevipenis and S.distincta are given for the first time. A checklist and key to known species of Smyga are also provided.

Three new species of the leafhopper genus Arboridia Zachvatkin (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae), with a key and checklist to known species of China.

Three new species of the leafhopper genus ArboridiaZachvatkin 1946, Arboridia (Arboridia) furcata Han, sp. nov., Arboridia (Arboridia) rubrovittata Han, sp. nov., and Arboridia (Arboridia) robustipenis Han, sp. nov., are described and illustrated from fruit trees in Southwest China. A key and checklist to known species from China are provided.

The most common types of nontraumatic dental conditions among emergency department visits in North Carolina before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to identify the most common types of nontraumatic dental conditions (NTDCs) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and assess the variations in the most common NTDCs by patient age groups and rural or urban locations and the impact of COVID-19 on emergency department (ED) visits for NTDCs in North Carolina. METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective data analysis of ED data from the North Carolina Disease Event Tracking and Epidemiology Collection Tool. The authors estimated the proportions of NTDCs of all ED visits in 2019 and 2021 and ranked the proportions of the major categories of NTDCs by age groups and rural or urban locations. They used a multiple logistic regression model to assess the impact of COVID-19 on NTDCs. RESULTS: By the first diagnosis, the proportion of NTDCs dropped from 1.1% in 2019 to 0.99% in 2021 (P < .001). Caries was specified as the third most common NTDC. Oral infection was the top NTDC among young (≤ 17 years) and older patients (≥ 65 years). No significant differences were found in NTDCs between rural and urban areas (P = .68). Children younger than 2 years (adjusted odds ratio, 4.36) and adults aged 18 through 44 years (adjusted odds ratio, 4.54) were more likely to visit the ED for NTDCs than those 75 years and older. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of NTDCs seen at the ED was lower during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 than in 2019. The common NTDCs varied by age group but were similar in rural and urban areas. The most common NTDCs were related to toothache, oral infection, and caries. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: More efforts are needed to reduce ED visits for NTDCs.

A new facultatively cavernicolous planthopper species from Hainan Island, China (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha, Fulgoromorpha, Cixiidae).

A new facultatively cavernicolous planthopper species Borysthenes hainanensis sp. n., from Hainan Island, China, is described and illustrated. Specimens collected from lava tubes and above ground were found to be the same species but males of the former have smaller eyes. Distribution maps of the new and other species are given together with a checklist to all Borysthenes species and a key to Chinese ones. Type images of most Borysthenes species are also provided including Borysthenes dilectus (Walker), comb. n.

A Revision of the Genus Argolis (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Stenopodainae) from Asia.

The assassin bug genus Argolis Stål, 1861 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Stenopodainae) has a disjunct distribution in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. In the present study, the Asian species of Argolis are revised. Two species are recognized, redescribed, and illustrated, with the following new subjective synonyms and new combination proposed: Argolis Stål, 1861 = Bardesanes Distant, 1909, syn. nov. = Neoklugia Distant, 1919, syn. nov.; A. farinator (Reuter, 1882) = N. typica Distant, 1919, syn. nov. = B. sericenotatus Livingstone & Ravichandran, 1989, syn. nov.; A. signata (Distant, 1909), comb. nov. (transferred from Bardesanes) = Caunus noctulus Hsiao, 1977, syn. nov. Lectotypes for C. farinator, B. signatus, and N. typica are designated. A key to separate the two Asian species of Argolis is provided. The sexual dimorphism, systematic relationships, and distribution of Argolis are discussed. Argolis is newly recorded from Laos, Pakistan, and Vietnam.

Description of two new species of the leafhopper genus Pediopsis Burmeister (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Eurymelinae, Macropsini) from China.

Two new leafhopper species of Pediopsis Burmeister, Pediopsisalbopicta Li & Dai, sp. nov. from Hunan and Guizhou provinces of central China and Pediopsispianmaensis Li & Dai, sp. nov. from Yunnan Province of southwestern China, are described and illustrated. Ambiguity in the original description of P.bannaensis Yang & Zhang is discussed, and figures of the female holotype of P.femorata Hamilton are provided for the first time. A checklist and key to Chinese species of Pediopsis are also given.

An annotated and illustrated Type Catalogue of the predacious Shieldbugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Asopinae) in the Collection of the Natural History Museum, London.

We present an annotated and illustrated type catalogue of the predacious shieldbugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Asopinae), housed in the collection of the Natural History Museum, London. This work involves recognising types and their status, recording their label data and providing images of both the types and their labels. Although we personally refrain from designating lectotypes as the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature recommends that it should be done "as part of a revisionary or other taxonomic work" (ICZN 1999: Recommendation 74G), we have nevertheless accepted that lectotypes were designated before 2000 (see ICZN 1999: Art. 74 §§ 5 and 6), for the following 43 species: by Distant (1880) for Apateticus halys Dallas, Arma fuscescens Dallas, Arma modesta Dallas, Arma tincta Dallas, Oplomus rutilus Dallas, Oplomus ventralis Dallas, Stiretrus ornatus Dallas, Stiretrus ruficeps Dallas; by Synave (1969) for Mecosoma floridum Distant and Podisus volxemi Distant; by Thomas (1992) for Arma ampla Walker, Arma grandis Dallas, Arma lateralis Walker, Arma nigrispina Dallas, Arma obscura Dallas, Mormidea semialba Walker, Oplomus equestris Distant, Oplomus festivus Dallas, Oplomus nigripennis Dallas, Oplomus pulcher Dallas, Oplomus stellatus Distant, Oplomus violaceus Dallas, Platynopus conspersus Walker, Podisus amulae Distant, Podisus falcatus Distant, Podisus gaumeri Distant, Podisus insignis Distant, Podisus nigriventris Distant, Podisus sculptus Distant, Podisus smithi Distant, Stiretrus annulatus Distant, Stiretrus caeruleus Dallas, Supputius typicus Distant, Tynacantha marginata Dallas, Tynacantha splendens Distant, Zicrona cuprea Dallas and Zicrona marginella Dallas; and by Thomas (1994) for Anasida funebris Distant, Damarius bicolor Distant, Neoglypsus opulentus Distant, Neoglypsus viridicatus Distant, Incitatus primus Distant, and Jalloides versicolor Distant. We have also found out that Synave (1969) had designated the lectotype of Glypsus erubescens Distant before Linnavuori (1975). A syntype of Oplomus distinctus Distant, 1880 is located and Thomas's (1992: 57) synonymy of this species with O. catena (Drury, 1782) is confirmed. Informations regarding labels used by the first five curators of Hemiptera at the Natural History Museum, London (Adam White, William S. Dallas, Francis Walker, William L. Distant and William E. China) are provided. In total, we list herein 248 specimens examined in NHMUK (49 holotypes, 41 lectotypes, 84 syntypes, 17 paratypes, 25 paralectotypes, and 32 non-types which are historical specimens), representing 149 nominal species or 104 currently valid species (ca. 34% of the just over 300 valid Asopinae species worldwide).

Six new species of the leafhopper subgenus Pediopsoides (Pediopsoides) (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Eurymelinae, Macropsini) from China.

The nominate subgenus Pediopsoides (Pediopsoides) Matsumura, 1912 is widely distributed in the Oriental region but has high species diversity only in southern China. The present paper describes and illustrates six new species of Pediopsoides (Pediopsoides) namely, P. (P.) ailaoshanensis Li & Dai, sp. nov., P. (P.) quadrispinosus Li & Dai, sp. nov., P. (P.) flavus Li & Dai, sp. nov., and P. (P.) pianmaensis Li & Dai, sp. nov. all collected in Yunnan Province, southwestern China, P. (P.) maoershanensis Li & Dai, sp. nov., found in Guangxi Autonomous Region, southern China, and P. (P.) huangi Li & Dai sp. nov., from Taiwan, previously incorrectly recorded as a new name by Li & Dai, 2018 in Dai et al. 2018: 203 for P. (P.) femorata Huang & Viraktamath, 1993 (nec Pediopsisfemorata Hamilton, 1980). Two new junior synonyms of Sispocnis Anufriev, 1967 are proposed, i.e., Digitalis Liu & Zhang, 2002, syn. nov. and Neosispocnis Dmitriev, 2020, syn. nov.

Functional and evolutionary implications of protein and metal content of leafhopper brochosomes.

Brochosomes derived from the specialized glandular segments of the Malpighian tubules (MTs) form superhydrophobic coatings for insects of Membracoidea, and have multiple hypothetical functions. However, the constituents, biosynthesis and evolutionary origin of brochosomes remain poorly understood. We investigated general chemical and physical characteristics of the integumental brochosomes (IBs) of the leafhopper Psammotettix striatus, determined the constituents of IBs, identified the unigenes involved in brochosomal protein synthesis, and investigated the potential associations among brochosomal protein synthesis, amino acid composition of food source, and the possible roles of endosymbionts in brochosome production. The results show that IBs are mainly composed of glycine- and tyrosine-rich proteins and some metal elements, which contain both essential and non-essential amino acids (EAAs and NEAAs) for insects, including EAAs deficient in the sole food source. All 12 unigenes involved in synthesizing the 12 brochosomal proteins (BPs) with high confidence are exclusively highly expressed in the glandular segment of MTs, confirming that brochosomes are synthesized by this segment. The synthesis of BPs is one of the key synapomorphies of Membracoidea but may be lost secondarily in a few lineages. The synthesis of BPs might be related to the symbiosis of leafhoppers/treehoppers with endosymbionts that provide these insects with EAAs, including those are deficient in the sole diet (i.e., plant sap) and could only be made available by the symbionts. We hypothesize that the functional modification of MTs have combined with the application of BPs enabling Membracoidea to colonize and adapt to novel ecological niches, and evolve to the dramatic diversification of this hemipteran group (in particular the family Cicadellidae). This study highlights the importance of evolutionary plasticity and multiple functions of MTs in driving the adaptations and evolution of sap-sucking insects of Hemiptera.

Leafhoppers of the Fynbos Biome of South Africa: Colistra, Proekes, Proekoides and a new genus (Insecta, Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Deltocephalinae, Bonaspeiini).

The following leafhoppers (Deltocephalinae: Bonaspeiini) of the Fynbos Biome of South Africa are treated: Colistra parvulus (Linnavuori, 1961) is redescribed and three new species of Colistra Davies are described, i.e., C. acapitatus sp. n., C. bucapitatus sp. n. and C. semialius sp. n.; four species of Proekoides Stiller, 1986 are reviewed with the addition of P. postspina sp. n.; Proekes cephaleus (Naudé, 1926) is redescribed with details of the female ovipositor, and three new species, i.e., P. hemiplatyphalis sp. n., P. tetracaphalis sp. n., P. diacaphalis sp. n.; a new genus, Xhoreus gen. n. is described with one new species, X. ulosentus sp. n. All species are of similar appearance, size and with reduced hind wings. Two species, C. acapitatus and C. bucapitatus, were collected on Rooibos tea. Keys are provided to species of Colistra, Proekes and Proekoides. Distribution models show limited ranges in the Western Cape province and confined to the Fynbos Biome while Xhoreus ulosentus is possibly endemic to the Cape Peninsula. The validity of the tribe Bonaspeiini is discussed.

Review of the Pacific leafhopper genus Hecaloidella (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Selenocephalini) with description of sixteen new species.

Eighteen species of the Pacific leafhopper genus Hecaloidella Osborn, 1934 are described and illustrated and a key provided for their separation. The previously described species, H. nitida Osborn (type species) and H. brunnifacialis Shang Zhang, and the following sixteen new species are treated: H. brunifasciata Zhang Webb, H. bimaculata Zhang Webb, H. borneoensis Zhang Webb, H. brevis Zhang Webb, H. brevipenis Zhang Webb, H. brevispina Zhang Webb, H. caudospina Zhang Webb, H. knighti Zhang Webb, H. longipenis Zhang Webb, H. nudapenis Zhang Webb, H. pacifica Zhang Webb, H. quadripicta Zhang Webb, H. quadrispina Zhang Webb, H. sandakanensis Zhang Webb, H. singaporensis Zhang Webb and H. spinosa Zhang Webb spp. nov..

Description of the adult of the thread-legged assassin bug Eugubinus araneus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) from India, with comments on other congeneric species.

The thread-legged assassin bug Eugubinus araneus Distant, 1903 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae: Emesini) was described from India on the basis of two nymphs. This paper provides the first description of the adult with illustrations of both the adult and the nymph. A checklist of and a key to species of Eugubinus Distant, 1903, and images of the type material of six additional species of the genus, i.e., E. intrudans Distant, 1915, E. reticolus Distant, 1915, E. canalanus (Distant,1914), E. annulatus (Villiers, 1948), E. forsteri Wygodzinsky, 1953 and E. papuensis Wygodzinsky, 1966, are provided.

Taxonomic review of the grassland leafhopper genus Maiestas Distant (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Deltocephalini) from Pakistan with description of a new species and two new records.

The grassland leafhopper genus Maiestas Distant is reviewed from Pakistan with the description and illustrations of one new species, Maiestas sinuata Shah Duan sp. n., and two new records, i.e., Maiestas maculata n. rec. and Maiestas trispinosa n. rec. A checklist of the known species of Maiestas from Pakistan is also given together with a key for their separation (males).

Redescription of the African assassin bug Ectomocoris proximus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae) with a new synonymy.

The African peiratine assassin bug species, Ectomocoris proximus Miller, 1952 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae) is redescribed and E. limbatus Miller, 1952, syn. nov., is placed as its junior synonym. Types of both nominal species were examined, habitus images and figures of the male genitalia are provided.

Transfer of the assassin bug Helonotus pallidulus Walker to the genus Heza Amyot & Serville (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Reduviidae, Harpactorinae, Harpactorini).

Based on examination of its holotype, Helonotus pallidulus Walker, 1873 is transferred to the genus Heza Amyot & Serville, 1843 with the resulting new combination: Heza pallidula (Walker, 1873), comb. nov. (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Reduviidae, Harpactorinae, Harpactorini). A comparison with the similar Heza ventralis Stål,1872 is provided.

Key to species of the genus Pachymetopius Matsumura (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Stegelytrini ) with description of a new species from China.

A new leafhopper species: Pachymetopius falcatus sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Guizhou Province, China. A key is given to distinguish all species of the genus. The type specimen of the new species is deposited in the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China (GUGC).

Articaine use in children among dental practitioners.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine local anesthetic selection and dentists' use of articaine in children. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional survey design, a questionnaire regarding the use of local anesthetics in children was mailed to a random sample of dentists and all pediatric dentists from North Carolina and Virginia. The 16-item questionnaire included questions regarding the preferred local anesthetic used in children. The association between dental practitioner type and anesthetic use was tested using the chi-square or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: There was a 30% response rate. Lidocaine with epinephrine was the local anesthetic preferred overall by all practitioners. Approximately 50% of dentists surveyed reported using articaine in children. There were no significant differences in the preference of articaine between provider types with the exception of older, 7- to 10-year-old patients, where general dentists preferred articaine significantly more than pediatric dentists (28% vs 16%). CONCLUSIONS: While lidocaine with epinephrine was still the preferred local anesthetic for use in children, the use of articaine in children was prevalent among both general and pediatric dentists. The use of articaine became more prevalent as the patient's age increased.

Anesthetic management of the trigeminocardiac reflex during mesiodens removal-a case report.

We describe a case in which reflection of a palatal flap for removal of a mesiodens is presented as the triggering factor for bradycardia caused by stimulation of the trigeminocardiac reflex. The management of the case, as well as the reflex arc, is discussed.