New Eastern Record of \u3ci\u3ePtosima Walshii\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

Ptosima walshii LeConte (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) is reported for the first time in Pennsylvania, being the eastern-most record of the species. Four specimens were captured in Lindgren funnel traps in Bedford and Fulton counties during invasive wood-destroying beetle surveys

A review of New World Asiracinae (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Delphacidae) with five new taxa

Die Gattungen der Asiracinae der Neuen Welt werden im Kontext mit neu entdeckten Taxa aus Ecuador diskutiert und revidiert. Twölf nominelle Gattungen, davon drei Ugyopinae und neun Asiracinae (eine neu) werden aus der Neuen Welt gemeldet. Die tatsächliche Gattungszugehörigkeit der einer bislang zur Gattung Asiraca gestellten Art konnte nicht geklärt werden. Schlüssel zu den Asiracinae der Neuen Welt (ohne Asiraca) und zur Gattung Tetrasteira werden präsentiert. Neu beschrieben werden Pentasteira gen. nov. (Asiracinae: Platysystatini) mit P. albifrons n. sp., sowie drei Arten der Gattung Tetrasteira (Asiracinae: Tetrasteirini): T. vulgaris, n. sp., T. trimaculata n. sp., and T. solata n. sp. Große Mengen von Tetrasteira vulgaris n. sp. wurden im Amazonasbecken von Ecuador in Regenwäldern außerhalb von Überflutungsgebieten durch „canopy fogging“ gesammelt.The genera of New World asiracine planthoppers are reviewed and discussed in the context of new taxa discovered in canopy fogging samples from Ecuador. Twelve nomative genera, including 3 Ugyopinae and 9 Asiracinae (1 new) are reported from the New World, although the generic identity of the single Asiraca species could not be verified. A key to New World asiracinae genera, excluding Asiraca, is provided. The new taxa include Pentasteira gen. nov. (Asiracinae: Platysystatini) with 1 species (P. albifrons n. sp.) and a new Tetrasteira (Asiracinae: Tetrasteirini), prompting a generic revision with three new described species (T. vulgaris, n. sp., T. trimaculata n. sp., and T. solata n. sp.). A key to the species of Tetrasteira is provided. Tetrasteira vulgaris n. sp. has been taken in large numbers in canopy fogging samples from terre firme forest in the Amazon basin in Ecuador

The Science Performance of JWST as Characterized in Commissioning

This paper characterizes the actual science performance of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), as determined from the six month commissioning period. We summarize the performance of the spacecraft, telescope, science instruments, and ground system, with an emphasis on differences from pre-launch expectations. Commissioning has made clear that JWST is fully capable of achieving the discoveries for which it was built. Moreover, almost across the board, the science performance of JWST is better than expected; in most cases, JWST will go deeper faster than expected. The telescope and instrument suite have demonstrated the sensitivity, stability, image quality, and spectral range that are necessary to transform our understanding of the cosmos through observations spanning from near-earth asteroids to the most distant galaxies

Interstate migration of the US poverty population: Immigration “pushes” and welfare magnet “pulls”

This study evaluates the social and demographic structure of poverty migration during the 1985–90 period based on an analysis of recent census data. Particular attention is given to the roles of two policy-relevant factors that are proposed to be linked to poverty migration. The first of these is the role of immigration from abroad and its effect on the net out-migration of longer-term residents with below-poverty incomes, from States receiving the highest volume of immigrants. Such a response, it is argued, could result from job competition or other economic and social costs associated with immigration. The second involves the poverty population “magnet” effect associated with State welfare benefits (AFDC and Food Stamp payments) which has come under renewed scrutiny in light of the impending reform of the federal welfare program. The impact of both of these factors on interstate poverty migration is evaluated in a broader context that takes cognizance of other sociodemographic subgroups, and State-level attributes that are known to be relevant in explaining internal migration. This research employs an exceptionally rich data base of aggregate migration flows, specially tabulated from the full migration sample of the 1990 US census (based on the “residence 5 years ago” question). It also employs an analysis technique, the nested logit model, which identifies separately the “push” and “pull” effects of immigration, welfare benefits, and other State attributes on the migration process. Our findings are fairly clear. The high volume of immigration to selected US States does affect a selective out-migration of the poverty population, which is stronger for whites, Blacks and other non-Asian minorities as well as the least-educated. These results are consistent with arguments that internal migrants are responding to labor market competition from similarly educated immigrants. Moreover, we found that the impact of immigration occurs primarily as a “push” rather than a reduced “pull.” In contrast, State welfare benefits exert only minimal effects on the interstate migration of the poverty population—either as “pulls” or “pushes,” although some demographic segments of that population are more prone to respond than others. In addition to these findings, our results reveal the strong impact that a State's racial and ethnic composition exerts in both retaining and attracting migrants of like race and ethnic groups. This suggests the potential for a greater cross-state division in the US poverty population, by race and ethnic status.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43484/1/11111_2005_Article_BF02208337.pd

The James Webb Space Telescope Mission

Twenty-six years ago a small committee report, building on earlier studies, expounded a compelling and poetic vision for the future of astronomy, calling for an infrared-optimized space telescope with an aperture of at least $4m$. With the support of their governments in the US, Europe, and Canada, 20,000 people realized that vision as the $6.5m$ James Webb Space Telescope. A generation of astronomers will celebrate their accomplishments for the life of the mission, potentially as long as 20 years, and beyond. This report and the scientific discoveries that follow are extended thank-you notes to the 20,000 team members. The telescope is working perfectly, with much better image quality than expected. In this and accompanying papers, we give a brief history, describe the observatory, outline its objectives and current observing program, and discuss the inventions and people who made it possible. We cite detailed reports on the design and the measured performance on orbit.Comment: Accepted by PASP for the special issue on The James Webb Space Telescope Overview, 29 pages, 4 figure

The Science Performance of JWST as Characterized in Commissioning

This paper characterizes the actual science performance of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), as determined from the six month commissioning period. We summarize the performance of the spacecraft, telescope, science instruments, and ground system, with an emphasis on differences from pre-launch expectations. Commissioning has made clear that JWST is fully capable of achieving the discoveries for which it was built. Moreover, almost across the board, the science performance of JWST is better than expected; in most cases, JWST will go deeper faster than expected. The telescope and instrument suite have demonstrated the sensitivity, stability, image quality, and spectral range that are necessary to transform our understanding of the cosmos through observations spanning from near-earth asteroids to the most distant galaxies.Comment: 5th version as accepted to PASP; 31 pages, 18 figures; https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1538-3873/acb29

First record of Phaenops obtusa (Horn) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in Massachusetts

Barringer, Lawrence E. (2021): First record of Phaenops obtusa (Horn) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in Massachusetts. Insecta Mundi 2021 (862): 1-2, DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.504179

First record of Agrilus cliftoni Knull and Anthaxia viridifrons Gory (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in Wisconsin

Two species of Coleoptera: Buprestidae are reported from Wisconsin for the first time: Agrilus cliftoni Knull and Anthaxia viridifrons Gory. Trapping, distribution information, and additional records are also discussed

First record of Palonica viridia (Ball, 1903) (Hemiptera: Membracidae) in Utah

Palonica viridia (Hemiptera: Membracidae) is reported from Utah for the first time. Ecological and trapping information is also provided