ABSTRACT. The zoogeographical distribution of 42 cicadellid subfamilies and their assigned tribes and genera is compiled with distributional maps and proposed dispersaI pathways of genera that are shared interzoogeographicaJJy. Possible origin of the subfamiJies and tribes is proposed in an ancestral context from which the more modem extant groups evolved whereas origin of genera is in a more modem contex!. Notwithstanding their complex biogeography, the distributional data ofthe higher groups indicate that ali ofthe cosmopolitan and near cosmopolitan subfamilies arose during early Cretaceous or possibly the late Jurassic period (140-116 m.y.a.) when continental drift was in its early stages. Nearly ali of the New World and some Old World subfamilies are considered of more recent origin (Iate Cretaceous-Tet1iary). Ninety percent of the known genera (2,126) are endemic to their respective zoogeographical region and subregion, thus indicating relatively high host specificity and low rate of dispersaI. The majority (76%) ofknown extant genera are pantropical in origin, suggesting early or possible Gondwanaland origin of their ancestors. Dispersai pathways of genera shared by more than one zoogeographical region were generally south to north (Neotropical/Nearctic, Oriental/Palaearctic) or west to east (Palaearctic/Nearctic, Oriental/ Australian), from regions of high diversity to regions of low diversity and from warmer c1imates to coo ler c1imates. The most di verse and richest leafhopper fauna are present in the Neotropical and Ethiopian regions although taxai aflinities between them are poores!. The most depauperate fauna are in the Nearctic region and in Australia, reflecting the impact of isolating and ecological factors on distribution and radiation. Ecological barriers were more evident between the Ethiopian and Oriental fauna than between any other zoogeographical combination. Taxai aflinities appeared to be correlated with close continental proximities. Vicariance (physical) was the principal event that appeared to explain the distribution ofmany subfamilies and tribes whereas dispersai accounted for distribution ofthe majority ofinterzoogeographical genera.

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Abstract. Analysis of thirty‐four macrosteline and twenty‐eight non‐macrosteline leafhopper genera (Homoptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) suggests that the ability to transmit plant viruses has arisen on at least three separate occasions within the Macrostelini. The tribe, including the Coryphaelini syn.n. and Balcluthini, is shown to be monophyletic. A revised diagnosis of the Macrostelini is presented, together with a key to genera. Five new genera and eight new species are described: Adergannagen.n., Cicadabaragen.n.Kadrabolinagen.n., Masafueragen.n. and Scaphostelesgen.n., Yamatotettix remaneisp.n., Masafuera oceanicasp.n., Aderganna aethiopicasp.n., A.nigrasp.n., Scaphosteles nukahivasp.n., Kadrabolina elongatasp.n., K.sinuatasp.n. and K.bispinosasp.n. Four new combinations and five new synonymies are established: Cicadabara dorsalis (Osborn) comb.n., C.minuta (Osborn) comb.n., C.tintorella (Osborn) comb.n., Balclutha thea (Distant) comb.n., B.smaragdula Matsumura as a junior synonym of B.thea (Distant) syn.n., B.modesta Ahmed, Murtaza & Malik as a junior synonym of B.incisa (Matsumura) syn.n., B.karachiensis Ahmed, Murtaza & Malik as a junior synonym of B.rubrostriata (Melichar) syn.n., B.versicoloroides Ghauri as a junior synonym of B.sternalis (Distant) syn.n. and B.knighti Rao & Ramakrishnan as a junior synonym of B.sujawalensis Ahmed syn.n.

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The fine-branch niche is a natural setting found among the slender vines and terminal branches of shrubs and tree canopies. In this study, the authors designed two simulations of this setting for laboratory mice. Their main goal was to model phenotypic plasticity in a small, clawed mammal, in order to better understand the effect of a thin-branch arboreal setting on musculoskeletal growth and behavior of these animals. The authors exposed mice to the smaller climbing setting for limited amounts of time (e.g., 30 min) and used the larger setting to permanently house another group of mice. Mice in both the limited and continuous climbing groups succeeded at quadrupedal climbing among a complex of thin branch segments. This led the authors to postulate that similarly sized pre-primates that lacked the unique features of today's primates could potentially have exploited this niche. The mice housed in the continuous model remained healthy and showed no signs of aggression, leading the authors to suggest that animal care personnel could use similar models as forms of enrichment for laboratory mice.

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