BOOK REVIEWS Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/ae/article/52/4/261/2389729 by guest on 25 September 2021

Dragonflies and Damselflies of Texas and the South-Central into a small backpack. My paperback copy appears durable, although United States I’m not sure how it would withstand an accidental dive into a muddy river. The layout is pleasing and readable, and the reproduction of John C. Abbott graphics, including line art, halftones, and color, is excellent. The Princeton University Press Princeton, NJ last is particularly important, because the color photographs will 2005, 424 pp. undoubtedly be the portion of the book that many readers turn to Price: $35.00, Paperbound, ISBN: 0-691-11364-5 first, as an identification aid and for sheer enjoyment. $79.50, Clothbound, ISBN: 0-691-11363-7 A few flaws exist, of course. Females of Zygoptera and Anisoptera often pose greater identification problems than males. The meso- Ten years ago, Minter Westfall and I finally published The Damsel- stigmal plates of Zygoptera are extensively illustrated, but in one flies of North America, a project to which he had by then devoted or two cases, the drawings give a slightly misleading impression of 40 years (Westfall and May 1996). At the time, except for small their three-dimensional structure (the representation of which is a volumes on Florida (Dunkle 1989, 1990) and Cape Cod (Carpenter difficult task, to be sure). For the Anisoptera suborder, more extensive 1991), no up-to-date and easily accessible treatment of the Odo- illustration of the vulvar laminae of , Corduliidae, and nata of North America was available. In the subsequent decade, Libellulidae would have been helpful; although often not visible in a veritable flowering of interest and information has burst on the the field, these structures can be essential to proper identification in scene—a result, probably, of the growing number of bird watchers faded preserved specimens. Finally, as noted by Donnelly (2005), and butterfly enthusiasts who came to realize that there are more the of found in the area of coverage is not S. things to watch and marvel at than had previously been dreamt of albistylus, but the recently described S. sigmastylus. in their philosophy. Whether our rather wordy and academic tome The organization of the work is conventional but appropriate, gave any impetus to this phenomenon, I won’t presume to say, but with a short, well illustrated introduction that covers the gen- certainly a bounty of references, many sumptuously illustrated and eral biology, biogeography, essential morphological features, and intended at least in part to aid field identification, now exists. Some methods of study of odonates. The great bulk of the text, some notable examples include Dunkle (2000), Curry (2001), Glotzhober 280 pages, is devoted to fairly detailed treatment of each of the and McShaffrey (2002), Manolis (2003), Nikula et al. (2003), and 243 species known from the region, along with brief introductory Lam (2004). remarks, emphasizing the regional fauna, about each family and One might suppose that by now, all that could be said about genus. Each species account includes sections giving dimensions, has been said, but this new volume fills an important gap in regional and general distribution, flight season in the region, iden- the literature. The south-central states, as delimited here encompass tification features and a comparison with similar species, very brief a very large area, much of which has received comparatively little habitat notes, a short discussion of behavior and notable biologi- attention from odonatologists until quite recently. It includes parts cal features, and a list of three or four pertinent references. One of 10 biotic provinces, extending from the swamps and marshes might wish that the treatment of habitat and behavior were more of the Mississippi Delta to the Rocky Mountains in northern New detailed, but for many species little more of substance is known. Mexico. Its long southern border with Mexico includes most of the In a few cases, the morphological descriptions seem a bit more Rio Grande and reaches almost to the Sonoran Desert in southwest- extensive than the aim of the book requires, but in general, these ern New Mexico. Consequently, the odonate fauna in this book are succinct and to the point. includes elements from the Southeast, the Great Plains, and the Far Three other features accompanying the descriptions deserve spe- West, and it is enriched by a substantial list of Mexican species that cial mention. First, simplified keys to families, genera, and species is almost unique within previous volumes on the Odonata. This supplement the descriptions and pictures. Second, line drawings of scope presents Abbott with the challenge and opportunity to guide most crucial features, including the male terminalia, are abundant the novice through a thicket of female forktails (Ischnura sp.) and and clear. Despite the features that allow recognition of many introduce even the experienced entomologist to what are likely to Odonata on the wing, many species require closer examination in be many unfamiliar taxa. the hand for reliable identification, and the keys and figures provide This book clearly rises to the challenge. It is part of the well- the wherewithal. Third, small but detailed and yet quite readable regarded Princeton Field Guides series and is nicely produced, with maps indicate distributions within the region to the level of county. few typographical or editorial errors. Like most “field guides,” it is The verbal treatment of regional distribution supplements this by actually a bit large for optimal field use, but nevertheless it slips easily listing biotic provinces and watersheds, maps of which are provided

American Entomologist • Volume 52, Number 4 261 in the introduction. Together, these complementary presentations of Ohio. Ohio Biological Survey, Columbus. of distribution effectively provide detailed, visually accessible, and Lam, E. 2004. Damselflies of the Northeast. Biodiversity Books, Forest biologically meaningful information. Hills, NY. Another strength of this volume, as I mentioned earlier, is the Manolis, T. 2003. Dragonflies and damselflies of California. University of abundance of very good color photographs. Nearly all species are California Press, Berkeley. represented, many by multiple pictures to show sexual and chromatic Nikula, B., J. L. Loose, and M. R. Burne. 2003. A field guide to dragonflies and differences, except for four species discovered while the book was in damselflies of Massachusetts. Natural Heritage and Endangered Species press, which are given only brief accounts. One consequence of the Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Boston. number of photos and the page format is that each picture is rather Westfall, M. J., and M. L. May. 1996. Damselflies of North America. Scientific small, but the choice of pictures, judicious cropping, and excellent Publishers, Gainesville, FL. production values have resulted in clear and usable, often beautiful, images. In conjunction with the other aids provided, these images Michael May will allow for ready identification of the vast majority of specimens Department of Entomology encountered. Overall, Abbott has produced an outstanding contribu- Rutgers University tion that will be an important addition to the libraries of amateur New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8524 and professional entomologists interested in Odonata. E-mail: [email protected] Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/ae/article/52/4/261/2389729 by guest on 25 September 2021

References Cited Curry, J. R. 2001. Dragonflies of Indiana. Indiana Academy of Science, Indianapolis. Carpenter, V. 1991. Dragonflies and Damselflies of Cape Cod. Cape Cod. Development and Evolution Museum of Natural History, Series 4, Brewster, MA. Donnelly, T. W. 2005. Book review: Dragonflies and Damselflies of Texas Bruce S. Heming and the South-Central States. Argia 17(2): 18–19. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY Dunkle, S. W. 1989. Dragonflies of the Florida peninsula, Bermuda, and the 2003, 444 pp. Bahamas. Nature Guide 1. Scientific Publishers, Gainesville, FL. Price: $89.95 Dunkle, S. W. 1990. Damselflies of Florida, Bermuda, and the Bahamas. ISBN: 0-8014-3933-7 Nature Guide 3. Scientific Publishers, Gainesville, FL. Dunkle, S. W. 2000. Dragonflies through binoculars, a field guide to dragonflies are very useful for the study of development. In par- of North America. Oxford University Press, New York. ticular, molecular genetic approaches using the fruit fly, Drosophila Glotzhober, R. C., and D. McShaffrey. 2002. The dragonflies and damselflies melanogaster, have produced some of the most significant conceptual

Get ready for San Diego! ESA’s 55th Annual Meeting, Dec. 9-12, 2007

262 American Entomologist • Winter 2006 and factual advances in our understanding of the development of the choice and coverage of topics may not satisfy everyone. At some all . This widely recognized fact, which was acknowledged level, the coverage of Insect Development and Evolution is necessar- by honoring Drosophila researchers with the 1995 Nobel prize in ily superficial. Three hundred and eighty-three text pages is hardly Physiology or Medicine, explains why the embryonic development enough to cover the requisite topics in any depth. I have used this of this little fly is covered in depth in most textbooks of animal book in a course in insect development, and there are topics that I development (e.g., Scott Gilbert’s Developmental Biology, Lewis wish were more extensively covered. However, frequent use of the Wolpert and co-authors’ Principles of Development; Peter Lawrence’s extensive bibliography of 1,804 references, which span more than The Making of a Fly). 100 years of research up to 2001, always provides leads to materials With the exception of the hormonal control of metamorphosis for all but the most specialized questions. and the development of imaginal discs, however, few other aspects Other readers, by contrast, may find some topics arcane or their of the development of insects are included in such textbooks. Yet, coverage too detailed. To those readers, I say be grateful that this how the egg of a particular insect species develops into an adult book exists, as the information that has been compiled here—often includes many more than these few topics. In addition, the same for the first time—is mostly dispersed in hundreds of primary re- developmental process can differ significantly across (and even search papers. As we go from understanding how animals develop within) insect orders. In Insect Development and Evolution, Bruce to understanding how animal diversity and evolution occurs, we Heming has provided an excellent, up-to-date book that includes the will appreciate the tremendous effort that Bruce Heming has made Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/ae/article/52/4/261/2389729 by guest on 25 September 2021 essential chapters on the development of the most specious group on our behalf by collecting this information in this single accessible of animals on earth. source. This well written and illustrated textbook covers the embryonic Furthermore, I advocate expanding the book to include a de- and postembryonic development of insects and their evolution. This scription of laboratory exercises. In my experience, insects provide area of developmental biology is factually diverse because different materials for exceptional developmental biology labs. Immature insect groups have sometimes found varied solutions to the same stages (embryos, larvae, nymphs, or pupae) from different insect problems, from how to mate and make an embryo to how to mature groups (hemimetabolous insects such as crickets or grasshoppers; into an adult. It also includes information obtained using different holometabolous ones such as Tribolium, Manduca, and Drosophila) approaches, from “silk and wax” (e.g., classic ligature experiments are easily available at low cost and can be used in simple experiments that demonstrated the hormonal control of molting and metamor- and in conjunction with readily available probes (e.g., antibodies) to phosis) to molecular genetics (e.g., the molecular bases of A/P axis demonstrate critical concepts in developmental biology. I hope that formation in Drosophila). Bruce Heming will be willing to take on the challenge of producing Heming has tamed this disparate field by producing a well-struc- such a companion volume! tured book and providing an evolutionary framework to every topic. The text balances descriptive and more mechanistic information, John Ewer the emphasis being dictated by the current state of knowledge of Cornell University, Department of Entomology the topic covered. It also provides clear explanations of important 5130 Comstock Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853 concepts in developmental biology, as well as the history and actors E-mail: [email protected] involved in key findings in insect development. The 13 chapters of Insect Development and Evolution are divided into four sections of roughly similar length: female and male reproductive systems and sex determination (chapters 1–4), embryonic development (5–8), postembryonic development (9–12), and hexapod ontogeny and evolution (13). Each chapter provides Damselflies of Alberta: Flying Neon Toothpicks in the Grass a good overview of the topic and addresses the variations that oc- cur in different insect groups. The evolutionary variation of a given John Acorn character is effectively represented graphically by the repeated use University of Alberta Press, Edmonton of the same evolutionary tree onto which is added the variation seen 2004, 156 pages in this character among insect orders. Price: $22.50 (Paper) The text is complemented by an adequate number of figures. Most ISBN: 0-88864-419-1 of these have been taken from other sources and, unlike the figures in most textbooks, are all in black and white. This “no frills” choice Entomologists who know John Acorn’s earlier work, Tiger Beetles could be a benefit because it constrains the choice of figures to those of Alberta, need only to be told that this work is similar in format that are clearest (and cuts production costs). It is also a plus for and quality to that book. Those who have not had this good fortune teachers like myself, who whenever possible, still use transparencies should know that both books combine a light, conversational style in their lectures because black-and-white figures can be photocopied with sound science and excellent photography. The book is accessible onto transparencies with no loss of information. to beginners and is aimed at the amateur naturalist, although it is This book is a tour de force that makes the general and specific equally useful to the professional entomologist. Acorn has made a details of the development of insects accessible. As a result, Insect special effort to avoid technical terms where possible. For instance, Development and Evolution is useful in upper undergraduate and he finds it convenient to refer to the two pairs of appendages at the graduate courses in insect development, and more generally, in end of the male abdomen as the “upper and lower claspers” without courses in developmental biology; it is also an invaluable reference entering into the controversies about their homologies. However, he for researchers in these fields and insect biologists in general. The always gives the equivalent terms used in other works to which the burgeoning field of “Evo–devo,” in particular, should welcome this reader might refer. book; every chapter documents the huge diversity as well as the Alberta has 22 species of damselflies, 14 of which are also found conservation in the developmental processes used by members of in northern New England. The other eight are western or far north- this taxon. ern species. This means that the book and especially the pictures are As with any book that attempts to cover such a huge diverse field, useful in the northeastern United States, although some additional

American Entomologist • Volume 52, Number 4 263 species are not covered here. among students, grumbling among colleagues (mostly coleopterists Six introductory chapters cover several pertinent topics. The and hymenopterists), and the occasional accusation of taxonomic first chapter focuses on the relationships of damselflies to other bias, my remarks have prompted few serious debates. Regrettably, insects, their larval stages, and features of the adult useful in field that famous British population geneticist, J. B. S. Haldane, when identification. In subsequent chapters, Acorn discusses what can be asked what one could conclude about the Creator from a study of learned of damselfly biology by observing them in the field, and he biology, did not reply “an inordinate fondness for flies” includes a chapter (5) on collecting, field identification, and rear- (a clearly more euphonious statement). ing larvae. Using the history of damselfly study in Alberta, Acorn Alliterations aside, the Diptera are arguably one of the most discusses the historical interactions of amateur and professional familiar, abundant, and important groups of insects. This diverse entomologists. Finally, in separate chapters, he describes the habitat taxon, containing about 150 families and 150,000 described species, preferences for different wetlands and habitats, and includes an includes mosquitoes, black flies, midges, fruit flies, house flies, and excellent chapter on damselfly conservation. This final chapter many other well-known insects. These insects are diverse in species has themes that could easily be applied to insect conservation in richness, structural variety, feeding habits, and economic importance. a broader sense. They have successfully colonized all continents and almost every Each species has a set of informative details and is equipped habitat, including torrential streams, thermal springs, soil, wood, with a high-quality photograph of males and females. Distinguish- fruit, decaying organic material, the tissues of living organisms, and Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/ae/article/52/4/261/2389729 by guest on 25 September 2021 ing characteristics, particularly color markings observable in the even pools of crude petroleum. Furthermore, flies have been at the field, are given for each species. Sexual dimorphisms, color pat- center of research in genomics, developmental biology, phylogenetic terns, and color changes with age also are presented. The ecology systematics, and biogeography. of each species is discussed in some detail, including habitats, life The significance of Diptera in many fields was a major impetus histories, ranges, and suggestions of places where each species behind The Evolutionary Biology of Flies, edited by David Yeates can be found. One unique feature of this guide is that Acorn has and Brian Wiegmann. Recent advances in molecular biology and included notes on a variety of topics for each species. These notes phylogenetic analyses and the prominent role of Diptera in these present historical and contemporary accounts from other collec- disciplines have enhanced the general interest in flies and their role tors, Acorn’s anecdotes, discussions of the distribution and range as a model taxon. According to Yeates and Wiegmann, this “renais- changes and speculation as to their causes, and specific behaviors. sance [has been] fueled by two important scientific innovations: the Finally, distribution maps for each species show ranges in Alberta explosion of genetic information arising from dipteran genomics and in North America. and developmental biology, and improved phylogeny estimation Appendices include a checklist and key of Alberta damselflies. that relies on large amounts of new molecular data and quanti- Also, a list of useful sources to professional and amateur damselfly tative, statistical analytical methods.” The editors, perhaps best aficionados includes supply houses, entomology societies, and mu- seums. Finally, a glossary, bibliography, and gallery of damselflies (a diagrammatic comparison of color patterns) are included. I highly recommend this book and find little to criticize. In addi- tion to the information content, the witty style of the author makes it a good read. An index would have been helpful, and I would have High-Quality B liked a bit more information on larval stages, but these are very minor criticisms. Finally, I look forward to seeing the later books M in the series, of which the next planned will focus on “lady bugs” Insect Diets (Coccinelidae). D

Ross T. Bell Southland products now celebrates over 10 A Biology Department years of supplying you with the highest-quality University of Vermont C Marsh Life Science Bldg. products at reasonable prices. Most orders Burlington, VT 05405-0086 are filled within 2 business days. E-mail: [email protected] Custom mixing and E contract pricing are available. F 201 Stuart Island Road G Lake Village, AR 71653 (870) 265-3747 H The Evolutionary Biology of Flies (870) 265-4171 - fax [email protected] I D. K. Yeates and B. M. Wiegmann, Eds. http://www.tecinfo.com/~southland/ Columbia University Press, New York 2005, 430 pp. J Price: $89.50 K ISBN: 0-231-12700-6 Southland I often remark to students and colleagues that the Diptera are Products, Inc. L structurally and ecologically the most diverse and interesting group of insects. While these proclamations sometimes lead to chuckling

264 American Entomologist • Winter 2006 known for their work in Diptera phylogenetics, have assembled a focusing on model systems (e.g., various species of Drosophila, diverse group of evolutionary biologists, each a respected author- Anopheles, and Tephritidae). Scheffer’s chapter on invasive Diptera ity in their subdiscipline, yet all known for their comparative and draws attention to the utility of molecular markers for determining evolutionary approach to fly biology. The Evolutionary Biology of geographic origin and pathways of spread, focusing on her studies Flies is divided into three major sections: phylogeny, genomics and of agromyzids and various studies of mosquitoes, drosophilids, developmental biology, and evolutionary ecology and biogeography. and Mediterranean fruit flies. The final chapter in this section, by Each chapter provides up-to-date reviews of various subdisciplines Kitching, Bickel, and Boulter, presents a wealth of original data on and, in most cases, a prospectus of where these fields will be in the guilds of dipteran assemblages. Although some data are presented years to come. and discussed elsewhere (Kitching et al 2004), their chapter pro- Phylogeny. The shortest section of the book (62 pages) begins vides some novel interpretations on fly communities in tropical and with Whiting’s overview of the relationships of Diptera and potential subtropical forests. outgroups, focusing on the “fly–flea,” “fly–scorpionfly,” “fly–nan- In summary, The Evolutionary Biology of Flies is an excellent re- nochoristid,” and “fly–strepsipteran” hypotheses. For many of the view of Dipterology and the impact of the Diptera on phylogenetics, same reasons discussed in earlier papers (e.g., Whiting et al. 1997, genomics, evolutionary development, and other fields. By synthesiz- Wheeler et al. 2001, Whiting 2002), Whiting discounts the first ing a diversity of topics, the editors provide a mechanism through of these hypotheses, discusses problems with the second and third which scientists in disparate fields can gain an appreciation of work Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/ae/article/52/4/261/2389729 by guest on 25 September 2021 (i.e., probable paraphyly of Mecoptera and uncertain position of being done across all of “fly science.” As such, The Evolutionary the Nannochoristidae), and supports most strongly the “fly–strep- Biology of Flies should be required reading not only for researchers sipteran” alternative. Although the topic remains contentious, the who already call themselves “dipterists,” but for those who use flies chapter gives a good overview of the primary issues under debate. as an experimental or model organism. The next chapter, by Yeates and Wiegmann, gives a good update of their earlier review (Yeates and Wiegmann 1999), with the signifi- References Cited cant addition of a supertree analysis. The chapter also synthesizes Kitching, R. L., D. Bickel, A. C. Creagh, K. Hurley, and C. Symonds. 2004. considerable new data pertaining especially to the relationships of The biodiversity of Diptera in Old World rain forest surveys: a compara- the lower Brachycera. Finally, the chapter by Meier gives an inter- tive faunistic analysis. J. Biogeogr. 31: 1185–1200. esting synopsis of Willi Hennig’s life and impact on Dipterology Wheeler, W. C., M. F. Whiting, Q. D. Wheeler, and J. C. Carpenter. 2001. and phylogenetics. Considered by most to be the father of modern The phylogeny of extant insect orders. Cladistics 17: 113–169. phylogenetic systematics (i.e., cladistics), Hennig was primarily a Whiting, M. F. 2002. Phylogeny of the holometabolous insect orders: Mo- dipterist. I commend the editors for prominent inclusion of this lecular evidence. Zool. Scripta 31: 93–104. largely biographical chapter in a book otherwise focused on the Whiting, M. F., J. C. Carpenter, Q. D. Wheeler, and W. C. Wheeler. 1997. science of Dipterology. The Strepsiptera problem: Phylogeny of the holometabolous insect orders Genomics and Developmental Biology. Although not the longest inferred from 18S and 28S ribosomal DNA sequences and morphology. section of the book (150 pages), these chapters summarize what Syst. Biol. 46: 1–68. may be the greatest amount of literature. Dipterans are arguably Yeates, D. K., and B. M. Wiegmann. 1999. Congruence and controversy: the paradigm organisms in genetics and developmental biology, so toward a higher-level classification of Diptera. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 44: it is not surprising that several chapters are devoted to these fields. 397–428. Perhaps as expected, the focal taxon for most chapters is Drosophila. Despite being the longest chapter in the book (>60 pages), the con- Gregory W. Courtney tribution by Ashburner provides a concise overview of the history of Department of Entomology genetic/genomics research on Drosophila and Anopheles gambiae. Iowa State University For readers who have not been able to follow the burgeoning litera- Ames, Iowa 50011 ture on this field, the chapter includes a good introduction to such E-mail: [email protected] topics as chromosome numbers, microstructure, gene and genome organization, sex determination, mitochondrial genomes, evolution of genes and genomes, and polytene chromosomes. Subsequent chapters by DeSalle, Kidwell, Merritt, and Davies and Roderick expand upon these and other aspects of the evolutionary biology of flies. Although focused on Drosophila, authors attempt to review and synthesize the current state of genomic and developmental A Dazzle of Dragonflies biology of all Diptera. Evolutionary Ecology and Biogeography. The longest part of the Forrest L. Mitchell and James L. Lasswell book (200 pages), this section suffers to some extent from the breadth Texas A&M University Press of topics, which range from paleoecology to reproductive habits College Station, Texas and ecological genetics. Despite the somewhat disparate themes, 2005, 224 pp. the chapters contain good summaries and much useful information. Price: $39.95 cloth Chapters by Labandeira and Cranston delve into largely historical ISBN 1-58544-459-6 issues, focusing, respectively, on feeding habits–plant associations and biogeographical patterns of Diptera through time. Wilkinson Dragonflies have joined birds and butterflies as subjects of interest and Johns give an excellent review of swarming, mating, and copu- to nature observers armed with binoculars. This interest has resulted lation in Diptera. I especially appreciate their inclusion of the range in the publication of a plethora of guides for identifying dragonflies of unusual habits demonstrated by flies (even though they failed to and damselflies in the field (e.g., Dunkle 2000, Nikula et al. 2002, mention one of the most aberrant taxa with respect to reproductive Manolis 2003, Mead 2003, Biggs 2004, Lam 2004, and DuBois habits, the Nymphomyiidae). Filchak, Etges, Besansky, and Feder 2005,). The diversity of dragonfly field guides is worthy of note provide a nice overview of the ecological genetics of host use, again because modern technical manuals for identifying Odonata taxa

American Entomologist • Volume 52, Number 4 265 have only appeared in the past 10 years (Westfall and May 1996, a new North American dragonfly previously confused with S. albistylus Needham et al. 2000). (Odonata: Gomphidae). Int. J. Odonatol. 7: 3–24. Dragonfly enthusiasts who are interested in expanding their Corbett, P. S. 1999. Dragonflies: Behavior and ecology of Odonata. Cornell knowledge soon discover that there are fewer choices when it comes University Press, Ithaca, NY. to books on Odonata biology and behavior. The magnum opus by DuBois, B. 2005. Damselflies of the North Woods. Kolath-Stensaas Publish- the dean of odonatologists, Philip Corbet (1999), is an encyclopedic ing, Duluth, MN. guide to what is and is not known about dragonfly natural history Dunkle, S. W. 2000. Dragonflies through binoculars: A field guide to drag- and ecology, but it is heavy reading for nonspecialists. The late onflies of North America. Oxford University Press, New York. Peter Miller’s wonderful little book (1995) would fill the bill, but it Lam, E. 2004. Damselflies of the Northeast. Biodiversity Books, Forest is not as well known or widely available in North America as it is Hills, NY. in England. Dragonfly enthusiasts have thus been left to surfing the Manolis, T. 2003. Dragonflies and damselflies of California. University of Internet for information. California Press, Berkeley. Many find their way to Mitchell and Lasswell’s award-winning Mead, K. 2003. Dragonflies of the North Woods. Kolath-Stensaas Publish- web site, Digital Dragonflies (www.dragonflies.org). The site contains ing, Duluth, MN. wonderfully detailed close-up digital portraits made by scanning liv- Miller, P. L. 1995. Dragonflies (2nd ed.). Richmond Publishing, Slough, ing dragonflies at high resolution on a flatbed scanner, a technique the UK. Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/ae/article/52/4/261/2389729 by guest on 25 September 2021 two authors perfected. The images attracted much attention, and the Needham, J. G., M. J. Westfall, Jr., and M. L. May. 2000. Dragonflies of authors note in the introductory chapter of A Dazzle of Dragonflies North America. Scientific Publishers, Gainesville, FL. that they answered many questions about dragonflies in response Nikula, B., J. Sones, D. Stokes, and L. Stokes. 2002. Beginner’s guide to to e-mail enquiries from their web site. This book was inspired by dragonflies. Little, Brown, Boston. the interest shown in the web site; it is generously illustrated with Westfall, M. J., Jr., and M. L. May. 1996. Damselflies of North America. dazzling color scans and photographs that bring these photogenic Scientific Publishers, Gainesville, FL. insects to life on the page. A Dazzle of Dragonflies is fascinating and useful not only to Roy J. Beckemeyer novices, but to experienced students of the Odonata as well. After a Johnston Geology Museum brief introduction (Chapter1: The World of Dragonflies), the authors Emporia State University launch into an extensive review of dragonflies in the folklore of many Emporia, KS 66801-5087 cultures, including Native Americans, Europeans, Japanese, Chinese, E-mail: [email protected] and Filipinos (Chapter 2: Dragonfly Tales). The authors cover the fossil history of dragonflies (and their Carboniferous precursors, the Protodonata) in a concise but accurate and current account in Chap- ter3: The Prehistory of Dragonflies. Chapters 4 (Dragonfly Lives) and 5 (The Natural History of Dragonflies) provide an overview of odonate biology and life history that is supplemented in Chapter 6 (Watching Dragonflies) with information on behavioral features that are characteristic of different taxonomic groups. For readers who wish to actively pursue dragonfly study or con- servation, the authors provide detailed information on “Collecting Dragonflies” (Chapter7 , and Appendix C: “The Dragonfly Society of the America’s Collecting Statement”),”Water Gardening for Dragonflies” (Chapter 8), and “Picturing Dragonflies” (dragonfly photography and imaging, Chapter 9). Dragonfly students who travel will find Appendix B (“Colloquial Names of Dragonflies”) useful. It is refreshing to see information on responsible collecting cov- ered in this book; often field guides give the impression that only binoculars are needed to study dragonflies. Some species certainly can be identified in the field by using binoculars, but several genera of Odonata in North America can be difficult to separate to species even in hand. Also, as specimens of widespread taxa are gathered from poorly collected geographic regions, new species are still being described in North America (Cook and Laudermilk 2004). A brief but well selected list of references and a detailed Index top off this beautifully illustrated, useful, and educational volume. I recommend this book for Odonata specialists, nature enthusiasts with an interest in dragonflies, entomologists involved in extension work or in cultural entomology, photographers interested in digital imaging of insects, and anyone who appreciates those dazzling dragonflies.

References Cited Biggs, K. 2004. Common dragonflies of the Southwest. Azalea Creek Pub- lishing, Sebastopol, CA. Cook, C., and E. L. Laudermilk. 2004. Stylogomphus sigmastylus sp. nov.,

266 American Entomologist • Winter 2006 White as a Ghost: Winter Ticks and Moose Chapter 1 describes the biology of the winter tick and moose in Canada. Chapter 2 offers an historical perspective, beginning with Bill Samuel the first description of D. albipictus in 1869 and continuing with Federation of Alberta Naturalists, Natural History Series, the growing impact of winter ticks on moose and other wildlife at Edmonton three-decade intervals from the early 1900s to the present. The author November 2004; 97 pp. retains the reader’s attention by interjecting interesting anecdotes Price: $31.00 among the scientific data. ISBN: 0-9696134-6-6 The annual life cycle of the winter tick in Alberta is described in Chapter 3. This cycle is so predictable that, on at least one occasion, This book provides an overview of Dr. Samuel’s extensive and unique it was possible to prove in court, by the tick life stages present on research on host/tick interactions between moose and the winter the hide, that a moose had been killed by a poacher well after the tick, Dermacentor albipictus. Heavy tick infestations cause moose hunting season. The behavioral characteristics of winter ticks that to lose their outer hair and appear pale, thus leading to the moniker determine where female ticks oviposit and that enable questing larvae “ghost moose.” The production quality of this book is excellent, to sense and latch on to passing hosts from the clumps of vegetation including numerous full-color photographs and diagrams. Although are outlined in Chapter 4. Dr. Samuel has included striking photo- intended for a diverse audience, the author also made the book a graphs of larval tick clumps questing on vegetation and larvae with Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/ae/article/52/4/261/2389729 by guest on 25 September 2021 resource for professional scientists by providing a complete list of interlocking legs that enable the entire string of larvae to transfer primary citations. Dr. Samuel’s gentle but not detracting humor is to the host after only one larva has made contact. intertwined throughout the text. Perhaps predictably, many head- In Chapter 5, the author describes his sampling methods for ac- ing words normally ending in “tic” gain a terminal “k” from Dr. curately determining distribution patterns and total tick burdens on Samuel’s pen! wildlife hides. Although elk, white-tailed deer, and bison normally The book begins with a preface outlining the history of the have relatively modest tick burdens (an average of 1,200 or fewer author’s interest in parasites and tick–moose interactions. A narra- per animal in one study), 20% of moose were burdened with more tive prologue follows, relating the engaging story of a moose bull than 50,000 per animal, with a few harboring more than 100,000! calf, born in the spring and thriving until the following January, Chapter 6 outlines the considerable damage inflicted upon moose when intensive bouts of grooming began against the tick infestations as a result of these heavy infestations. As the winter gives way to acquired the previous autumn. The author describes, with genuine spring, and female ticks begin to engorge, moose spend less time pathos but without sentimentality, the calf’s deterioration over the feeding and more time grooming. This intense grooming activity coming months and its demise in April. This story sets the stage for results in anemia, loss of visceral fat and the winter coat hair, and the rest of the book. retarded growth of young moose.

BIO-SERV AD New art provided, please scan and drop in

American Entomologist • Volume 52, Number 4 267 Chapter 7 describes the behavioral strategies used by moose to mental resource for courses at all levels, especially considering its evade winter tick infestations. Moose are not efficient groomers, modest price. in part accounting for their much higher tick burdens reported in Chapter 5. However, reminiscent of oxpecker birds in Africa, vari- Katherine M. Kocan ous birds feed opportunistically on the winter ticks infesting moose. Center for Veterinary Health Sciences Chapter 8 describes the helminth parasites that moose also endure, Oklahoma State University including the meningeal worm, Parelaphostrongylus tenuis, and the Stillwater, OK, 74078 large American liver fluke, Fascioloides magna. One of the main E-mail: [email protected] strengths of this book is the considerable detail devoted to describ- ing the combined effects of these parasites on moose, as well as the W. Reuben Kaufman evolution of host–parasite interactions. Department of Biological Sciences Finally, in Chapter 9, Dr. Samuel proposes management strategies University of Alberta for controlling winter tick infestations. The importance of preserving Edmonton, Alberta moose populations is emphasized, focusing on the intrinsic beauty of the animals, their role in North America’s wildlife heritage and complex ecosystem, and their use as an important food source, Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/ae/article/52/4/261/2389729 by guest on 25 September 2021 particularly for some communities. In the Epilogue, he alludes to the role that responsible hunting might play as part of the overall management strategy for wild moose. Projected blood loss due to tick infestations is described in the Appendix. Cows and bulls must replace a minimum of 11% and 17% respectively of their blood volume, and calves, astonishingly, must replace a minimum of 58% of their blood volume during the late winter and early spring. Statistics such as these make one marvel at those moose that manage to survive heavy tick infesta- tions. In summary, this book is one of the most comprehensive studies of tick–host interactions in nature. The conduct of these studies serve as a model for the study of tick–host interactions worldwide. http://www.entsoc.org/renewal.htm We highly recommend this fascinating book as an excellent supple-

NATURE REVEALED GENERA Selected Writings, 1949–2006 OF THE NEW WORLD Edward O. Wilson An Illustrated and Annotated Key to the “Showcases the biologist’s special talents for ex- Anisoptera trapolating global theories from arcane and detailed Rosser W. Garrison, Natalia von Ellenrieder, research . . . Enlightening and thought-provoking.” and Jerry A. Louton —Library Journal “Dragonflies have “Nature Revealed demonstrates, again and again, been moving up to join Wilson’s endless capacity to put scientific findings butterflies as a model into a broader context and to bridge gaps between group for natural histo- disciplines.”—Nature ry and scientific study. $35.00 hardcover This well-organized and readable book will help speed that SIX LEGS BETTER trend on a hemispheric A Cultural History of Myrmecology basis.”—E. O. Wilson, Charlotte Sleigh Harvard University Marking the centenary of the coining of “myrmecol- “With this monumental ogy” to describe the study of ants, Six Legs Better set of keys and descrip- demonstrates the remarkable historical role played by tions, supported by carefully detailed and artistically ants as a node where notions of animal, human, and pleasing drawings, anyone can now identify to genus automaton intersect. any dragonfly specimen from this half of the world.” Animals, History, Culture: Harriet Ritvo, Series Editor —Dennis Paulson, author of Dragonflies of $55.00 hardcover Washington $99.00 hardcover

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268 American Entomologist • Winter 2006