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Journal of the Lepidopterists Society 41(3), 1987, 168
BOOK REVIEWS
Mexican Lepidoptera: Eurytelinae I, by R. de la Maza E. and R. Turrent D., color photographs by R. Doniz. 1985. iii + 44 pp., 43 maps, 19 plates (8 in color), 4 unnumbered halftone photos in text. In English. Sociedad Mexicana de Lepidopterologia, AC Publi-caciones Especiales 4. Distributed exclusively in United States by Entomological Reprint Specialists, P.O. Box 77224, Dockweiler Station, Los Angeles, California 90007. Paper-bound, $25.
Not since the Biologia Centrali Americana and Seitz' Macrolepidoptera of the World has Mexico's diverse lepidopteran fauna been reviewed. The present work is the first in a proposed series to rectify that situation, the authors' intent "... to make the Mexican Lepidoptera known internationally.'' They chose, for their initial volume, the subfamily Eurytelinae (family Nymphalidae), a group about which a number of generic revisions and life history studies covering Mexican species have appeared during the past 40 years.
There are good points to the work. A male genitalic drawing and at least one color photograph illustrates each of the 44 species (Perisama mexicana Hoffmann, known from but a single specimen, receives only a halftone photo in the text section). There are no female genitalic drawings. Seven new subspecies are described and illustrated with halftone photographs. The new forms are based on minor differences in coloration, though genitalic characters are sometimes mentioned but not elaborated. The diagnoses fulfill the Rules of Zoological Nomenclature but I should like to see a supplemental paper presenting more detailed comparisons with related subspecies. Particularly valuable are species keys, drawings of wing nomenclature and venation (Plate II), and diagnostic drawings of hard-to-differentiate species in Diaethria and Myscelia (Plate I). Also, a distribution map is given for every species. Part IV admirably summarizes recent literature on known food plants and immature stages. Because such data are available for only 14 species in 12 of 16 genera covered, the authors indirectly point to the need for additional research on immature stages.
Unfortunately, annoying problems seriously reduce the work's value. I emphasize, however, that most of these involve presentation, not content. Abundant typographical and grammatical errors make the reading almost painful. For example, on p. 33 there appears, "... drinking in wet rocks and mudd, and resting on shaddy roks of the creek wall . . . ." I cannot determine whether the authors or a third party wrote the English version (more than once, the Spanish y appears instead of and). At any rate, for Entomological Reprint Specialists to have permitted a presentation so ineptly edited to go to press is deplorable.
I appreciate the maps, but they lack localities and outlines of the Mexican States. It appears that three base templates, none with northern or southern borders of the country shown, were used for the maps. Future workers with the Mexican fauna will still have to examine specimen labels and search sparse and scattered literature.
Although the halftone photos are excellent, the color photographs, almost without exception, have shadows (especially dark on Plate XIX). Comparisons with Moths of North America (MONA) are inevitable, but the quality of the present work does not approach MONA's standards.
Finally, no tribal and generic keys nor synonymies at any taxonomic level are provided. The species keys are clear and easy to use, and perusal of the photographs suffice for species identification. However, the work could have advanced the art and science of euryteline systematics had it carefully outlined supraspecific group differences beyond the brief, noncomparative summaries provided. Omission of synonymies seems inexcusable.
In summary, this first offering in the series goes far toward filling an important gap in our knowledge of world Lepidoptera. As such, the work must take its place beside the few omnibus reviews now available. If only care had been taken to imbue it with more production quality.
Sanford R. Leffler, 4701 15th Ave. NE, #6, Seattle, Washington 98105.