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Download Download 404 Florida Entomologist 92(2) June 2009 BOOK REVIEWS SAMWAYS, M. J. 2008. Dragonflies and Damselflies of South Africa. Pensoft, Sofia, 297 pp. ISBN 978- 954-642-330-6, hardback, 145 × 210 mm. Euros 39.00. From http://www.Pensoft.net In 2007 I attended an international odonato- These changes result from post-Tarboton system- logical meeting in Namibia. Many delegates were atic studies (Dijkstra 2006). In a multilingual na- identifying specimens using the new, colorful tion, the use of common names can be confusing. Dragonflies and Damselflies of Namibia (Suhling The Tarboton books include Afrikaans names, but & Martens 2007). On the southern coast of South Samways uses English ones only. Several English Africa, I used the excellent Tarboton guides (Tar- names have been used for many South African boton & Tarboton 2002, 2005) but wondered how species, but Samways chooses only one and men- the forthcoming Samways’ fieldguide would treat tions others (but not all) in the checklist at the the country’s wonderful dragonfly fauna. At Stel- back of the book. Many of the rejected names are lenbosch University, I visited Michael Samways’ those preferred by the Tarbotons. laboratory in the Department of Conservation “Interesting Dragonfly Areas” summarizes the Ecology and Entomology; everyone was looking concentrations of endemism in the country and forward to his new book, keen to try it in the field the penetration of tropical species from the north. and laboratory. Samways has extensively studied I would have liked more biogeographic informa- the South African Odonata and its many threat- tion here because endemism is, perhaps, the most ened species. fascinating characteristic of South African biol- The Tarboton guides, treating Anisoptera and ogy. South Africa has a rich mixture of tropical Zygoptera separately, were designed for field and temperate odonates and many of the latter identification of South African Odonata. Sam- are endemic and localized, such as the Malachites ways’ book is more convenient as both suborders (Chlorolestes) and Presbas (Syncordulia) in the are in the same book. The Tarboton books are Western Cape. Although about 20% of the South maybe more useful for quick identification in the African fauna is endemic, nowhere in the book is field. To use the Samways book effectively, one there a listing of these species. The maps and dis- needs more experience (knowledge of wing vena- tribution statements in the species account are tion and other dragonfly morphology is a big as- equivocal; for example, Ecchlorolestes peringueyi set) and must contend with much more informa- is “very localized in Western Cape Province” does tion, densely presented. Some have said they pre- not define it as a South African endemic, but it is fer the Tarboton books in the field and the Sam- one, and for lack of other range information in the ways’ guide in the laboratory. distribution statement, one can assume that the Dragonflies and Damselflies of South Africa author intends it to be considered so. Still, it begins with a well-illustrated introduction that would be good if both the distribution statement defines the Odonata, describes life histories and and the checklist indicated that a species is en- behavior, and outlines the region’s diverse aquatic demic. habitats. South Africa is mostly dry, and aquatic The section on conservation treats positive and habitats are often uncommon. Their diversity is negative human impacts on populations and the intriguing, ranging from swamp forests in the effects of destructive natural phenomena. The northeast, where many tropical species reach damming of a small stream, for example, is obvi- their southern range limits, to small mountain ously detrimental to species requiring flowing wa- streams that support many of the endemic species ter, which are often rare, but benefits those char- in the country; and from artificial ponds, common acteristic of ponds, which are frequently wide- in an arid country, to streams lined with alien tree spread and common. Pollution is relative— species, a condition that threatens many rare spe- Ischnura senegalensis is naturally adapted to wa- cies by creating too much shade. ter holes and wallows rich in extracts from mam- Other sections explain morphology, scientific mal dung, and is among the first colonizers of and common names, distribution patterns and sewage ponds. Additional topics include construc- conservation issues. The taxonomy of African tion of ponds and maintenance of streams to en- Odonata is not stable and the species lists of Sam- courage dragonflies. Several pages of field tech- ways and Tarboton differ. For example, 2 new, en- niques give practical advice on recognizing odo- demic and very rare species of Syncordulia re- nates in the field through size, silhouette, color cently have been described from the Western pattern, behavior and habitat. The efficient use of Cape (Dijkstra et al. 2007). In the libellulid genus binoculars and hand lenses is discussed and hints Diplacodes, Samways uses D. pumila for the spe- for successful photography are given. Beware of cies that the Tarbotons call D. deminuta; he crocodiles and bilharzia when wading after your places the Barbet Percher in Diplacodes (D. lumi- prize! The importance of retaining specimens for nans) but the Tarbotons place it in Philonomon. confirmation of identification and future scientific Book Reviews 405 study is stressed and techniques for collecting A novel contribution of Samways’ book is the and specimen preservation and storage are dis- 68-page pictorial species key. Designed for hand cussed. lens use and copiously illustrated with excellent Each detailed species account is a compact, line drawings, mostly of wings and male sexual comprehensive unit, printed on a single page and structures, this key helps identify all South Afri- divided into sections that are color-coded for con- can species. Although mainly for male identifica- sistency. Eleven families, 61 genera and 158 spe- tion, many females also can be named, especially cies are recognized. There is a summary of diag- with reference to the species accounts. My South nostic features, a more detailed description for African colleagues praise the utility of this unique identification and 2 photographs, mostly of a male key. Also included is a simpler key that sorts and female. These photographs of live or freshly males into groups based on color patterns. This killed specimens are usually excellent and have helps reduce the number of species one must con- diagnostic characters indicated on them. They are sider when identifying specimens flying or small (1/8 page) and many are printed too darkly, perched in the field. resulting in loss of detail. Most are by the author Michael Samways has put his heart and soul himself and his effort in amassing this collection into this book, and it shows. Dragonflies and is a testament to his dedication and persistence. Damselflies of South Africa is an indispensable An additional, 10-page section of photographs text for those beginning to watch dragonflies in shows many species in various forms and poses. southern Africa and to those students and profes- All the pictures are printed horizontally, even if sional biologists studying aquatic insects, their many should be oriented vertically to show the systematics, ecology and conservation. true perching pose of the insect. This is irritating to the purist, but it has the considerable benefit of REFERENCES CITED allowing the standardized page format to be maintained throughout. DIJKSTRA, K.-D. B. 2006. African Diplacodes: the status A Dragonfly Biotic Index, based on geographi- of the small species and the genus Philonomon (Odo- nata: Libellulidae). Intl. J. Odonatol. 9: 119-132. cal distribution, conservation status and sensitiv- DIJKSTRA, K.-D. B., SAMWAYS, M. J., AND SIMAIKA, J. P. ity to habitat change, is given—a widespread and 2007. Two new relict Syncordulia species found dur- abundant species tolerant of human disturbance ing museum and field studies of threatened dragon- scores 0; an endemic, sensitive species restricted flies in the Cape Floristic Region (Odonata: Corduli- to threatened habitats and having a small range idae). Zootaxa 1467: 19-34. scores 9. This index is a useful tool in conserva- SUHLING, F., AND MARTENS, A. 2007. The Dragonflies tion work. There is also a dot-map showing the and Damselflies of Namibia. Gamsberg Macmillan. species’ distribution in South Africa based on mu- Windhoek, Namibia. seum specimens, a summary of South African dis- TARBOTON, W., AND TARBOTON, M. 2002. A Fieldguide to the Dragonflies of South Africa. Privately pub- tribution and of total range, a written and visual lished. Modimole, South Africa. representation of adult flight period, concise de- TARBOTON, W., AND TARBOTON, M. 2005. A Fieldguide scriptions of habitat and behavior, a comparison to the Damselflies of South Africa. Privately pub- with similar species, and 1 or 2 two clear line lished. Modimole, South Africa. drawings of male genitalia, wings, or other body Robert A. Cannings parts required for identification. The account is Royal British Columbia Museum completed by bars indicating body length and 675 Belleville Street hindwing length accompanied by the numerical Victoria, BC, Canada V8W 9W2 range of measurements. e-mail: [email protected].
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