U.S. Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research Service, Lincoln, Nebraska
Date of this Version
2005
Citation
The Quarterly Review of Biology, Vol. 80, No. 3 (September 2005), pp. 360-361
Abstract
Based on its title, one could expect this volume to be mainly a taxonomic reference for the North American Black Flies, but it is actually much more. The book is organized into five parts, each containing two to three of the 10 total chapters. Part I presents a very comprehensive overview of the subject (Chapter 1), followed by a history of the research (Chapter 2) that contains good historical references, as well as citations that are quite recent. Historical references are always welcome in any review section because they may have been published in regional or local literature that are obscure and not always readily available. In Chapter 3, readers will learn current methods for collecting, mounting, and curating black fly specimens. Because this type of information can be widespread and difficult to find in the literature, its compilation in this volume is a very positive feature.
Part II presents a very thorough overview of black fly biology and provides readers with references to delve deeper if they should so desire. The three chapters (including one on cytology) are replete with line drawings and photomicrographs to fully illustrate the text. The chapter on behavior and ecology will be particularly useful to entomologists in the field, and contains concise host lists for various simuliid species. There are some instances where black fly biology has been useful in forensic investigations, but these references have not been included in this volume.
Probably the most surprising two chapters are in what appears to be strictly a taxonomic review in Part III (Economic Aspects). These chapters on social and economic impact, and management give an applied view to a taxonomic tome and make it a very well-rounded volume for anyone interested in the field. The social and economic impacts are concisely, but dramatically, presented and well supported with photographs showing swarms of simuliids attacking livestock and poultry. The management chapter has a very helpful table that shows the control methods used against particular simuliid species in various locations.
As expected, Part IV (Systematics and Taxonomy) is the most thorough section of the book. In Chapter 9, the relationships among species are discussed. Well-illustrated keys to species are provided in Chapter 10. Once a specimen has been identified, the cross-referenced index can be used to locate other information of interest.