Western North American Naturalist
Volume 65 Number 1 Article 20
1-27-2005
The Systematics of Lasiopogon (Diptera: Asilidae) by Robert A. Cannings
C. Riley Nelson Brigham Young University
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Recommended Citation Nelson, C. Riley (2005) "The Systematics of Lasiopogon (Diptera: Asilidae) by Robert A. Cannings," Western North American Naturalist: Vol. 65 : No. 1 , Article 20. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/wnan/vol65/iss1/20
This Book Review is brought to you for free and open access by the Western North American Naturalist Publications at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Western North American Naturalist by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Western North American Naturalist 65(1), © 2005, pp. 141–142
BOOK REVIEW
Cannings, Robert A. 2002. The systematics of centrated his most detailed work on a section Lasiopogon (Diptera: Asilidae). Royal of the flies limited largely to the Nearctic region. British Columbia Museum, Victoria, Initially, Dr. Cannings assumed it to be a British Columbia, Canada. 353 pp. ISBN relatively straight-forward revision. He knew 0-7726-4636-8. that there were many described species and assumed that few new species would be en- The robber flies (Insecta: Diptera: Asilidae) countered in this relatively well-collected fam- are a diverse family of true flies, with the ily of flies. He clearly states he was wrong in number of described species in the world this assumption. He estimates that roughly approaching that of the number of bird species. half of the species he encountered were unde- Yet most people, familiar at least in passing scribed and new to science. He found these with robins, sparrows, and Kentucky Fried specimens in collections from 84 museums Chicken, are completely unaware of these fas- scattered throughout the northern hemisphere. cinating insects. He describes 14 new species in his opaculus Dr. Robert Cannings is familiar with robber section to add to the 15 previously named flies and has created a superb monograph of species. This is roughly a 50% new species rate part of one genus, Lasiopogon. This monograph in a group thought to be quite adequately is a sturdy, hardbound volume that resulted described for a part of the world thought to from years of study of this group of flies lim- have been well documented! He notes that ited to the Holarctic region. Dr. Cannings this section comprises approximately 25% of gives a wonderful summary of the biology and Lasiopogon worldwide. Assuming an equal rate natural history of the family as a whole. It will of new species to be described elsewhere serve as a jumping-off point for students of (actually a conservative estimate based on these flies for years to come because of its bibli- sparse collecting in central Asia and eastern ographic thoroughness. He tackles the plethora Europe), one can see that the described fauna of morphological terms used in past descrip- of 51 species is probably closer to 100. In fact, tions and settles on standard terminology for as Dr. Cannings sorted through and meticu- obvious and obscure body parts that can serve lously dissected the taxonomically diagnostic as a basis for future detailed studies of robber terminalia of many of these flies, he set aside fly morphology. 49 as new species awaiting description! Oh, The study of this apparently monophyletic such a wonderfully diverse world is that of genus Lasiopogon, resting as it does in a phylo- insect taxonomy! One might have hoped for a genetic morasse of interesting genera, serves complete, detailed revision and description of as a model for elucidating and clarifying rela- all species in the genus, but alas, life is short, tionships among genera and problematic sub- and artificial deadlines by seen and unseen families. The approach of this monograph is to masters impose their need to publish at mile- consider the broad taxonomic categories to stones. Nevertheless, an appropriate mile- which Lasiopogon belongs and methodically stone has been reached. Dr. Cannings codifies dissect these categories into less inclusive the morphological terms that can be used to groups using the standard phylogenetic tools advantage in years to come and outlines a of outgroup comparison and parsimony. As the clear methodology for preparing and dissect- author immersed himself in this monumental ing specimens. work, he clearly realized that a complete and The volume is full of clear line drawings to easy end was not to be reached. Instead, he con- be used in identification. For these aspects he
141 142 WESTERN NORTH AMERICAN NATURALIST [Volume 65 is to be commended. These sections of the book Parsimony, or some other biogeographic analy- will have value for years to come and will set a sis techniques. Dr. Cannings was clearly tenta- standard not only for future work in the genus, tive in pushing the phylogenies in this fashion but also for all detailed taxonomic studies of because he knew that so many species are yet flies in general. He continues with a well-pre- to be described and so many areas are yet to sented, yet complex hypothesis of phylogenetic be collected thoroughly! But the trail is blazed relationships among genera, sections, groups, and the gauntlet is dropped for those who fol- and species groups. He is apologetic for the low. This is a great scientific treatment. lack of resolution this analysis gives (no apology needed; simply a few nodes have trichoto- C. Riley Nelson mies!). He considers these phylogenetic rela- Department of Integrative Biology tionships in a somewhat rambling biogeogra- Brigham Young University phic section that might have benefited from Provo, UT 84602 additional analysis using nested-clade, Brooks [email protected]