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Volume 44, Number 1
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Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 44(1), 1990, 39-40
SATURNHDAE: ECOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL OBSERVATIONS OF SELECT ATTACINI, by Robert D. Weast. 1989. Published privately by the author, whose address is: 5324 NW 78th Court, Johnston, Iowa 50131. 53 pp., 3 color plates, 1 text fig. Soft cover, 21.5 x 28 cm, no ISBN number, $16.90 (postpaid).
With the increasing availability of word processing programs and desk-top publishing on personal computers, it came as no surprise to see this vehicle used to publish an entomological work. Such methods need to be used cautiously to publish scientific work, and apparently the result does not constitute valid publication under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (1985, Articles 8 & 9). Since Weast did not propose any new names, the question of whether this book (some may prefer to call it a booklet) is a valid publication is not so critical. However, should this outlet become commonly utilized, the tempting and obvious opportunity to circumvent peer review and editorial input of the manuscript can lead to reduced quality of scientific literature. Even where manuscripts are refereed by other scientists, I would recommend that authors abstain from using desk-top publishing for work that is intended to have widespread and permanent application.
The vinyl cover, textured bond paper, and plastic spine are of good quality. The three color plates are glossy photographic prints measuring 18 x 25 cm and are attached loosely onto the pages with rubber cement. They should have been dry mounted. I will protect my copy by sheathing those three pages individually in clear plastic. The 13 photos in these three plates have great aesthetic and scientific value. The book will be fine for personal libraries, but less suitable for loaning out of public libraries.
The text provides discussions filled with details pertaining to field observations, rearing procedures, geographical localities, and ecological aspects. I learned a lot. I am sure that the great majority of statements in the text are accurate and factual. Weast generously gives credit throughout the text to all his correspondents for their ideas and discoveries; many authors are much less willing to credit others. Weast has made many trips to study Saturniinae, and in this book shares a lot of his personal observations made in southern Texas, Arizona, France, etc., effectively conveying his life-long enthusiasm for these big moths. He has carried out various experiments to introduce/colonize certain species (Samia cynthia, Callosamia promethea, Automeris io) into urban and rural locales, mostly in Iowa, where they did not occur formerly. Some data are qualitative, but he provides enough quantitative data in tabular form, combined with insightful discussion, that I believe this work will be useful to persons studying saturniid population ecology. Weast is to be commended for disproving the myth that everything is already known about the large, common saturniids.
The organization is weak in some ways. Many disjunct points are scattered throughout the text. Some paragraphs consist of a single sentence. Some are arranged under inappropriate subheadings. Certain examples detract from the scientific image of the work; these include referring to vertebrates as vertebrae (in a discussion on predation) and misusing the word speciation to convey a taxonomic rather than an evolutionary concept.
I was pleased to find satisfactory answers to several questions I have long puzzled over. These include: Why has Samia cynthia died out in certain cities and not others? Does S. cynthia really occur in Savannah, Georgia, and throughout most of Ohio and Indiana? Is the widely published report of an urban population of C. promethea specializing on lilac in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, really valid? What is the western range of C. promethea along the region between Minnesota and central Texas?
Most errors in the text are minor, but I feel the need to rectify a few. Weast consistently misspells Lemaire as LeMaire and Veracruz as Vera Cruz. The 1906 and 1907 citations in his bibliography were published by Caroline Soule, not Fred Tepper. Israel is incorrectly referred to as Palestine. Lastly, I suspect it unwise to publish the particulars when your friends repeatedly break federal law by collecting in national parks.
I consider the book to be overpriced, but the price is still generally affordable and substantially lower than the cost of most scientific books on the market. Despite the
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Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society
shortcomings I have outlined above, it offers a lot of value and interest. I recommend it to the many lepidopterists who are enthusiastic in their rearing and field collecting of larger Saturniidae.
Richard S. Peigler, Department of Zoology, Denver Museum of Natural History, 2001 Colorado Boulevard, Denver, Colorado 80205.
Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 44(1), 1990, 40
The Butterflies of Manitoba, by Paul Klassen, A. Richard Westwood, William B. Preston, & W. Brian McKillop. 1989. Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, vi + 290 pp. with 27 color plates, distribution maps, and various text illustrations. Soft cover (plastic laminate), 20.5 x 25 cm, ISBN-0-920704-16-6; $18.66 (U.S.) + $1.70 shipping.
This book is a comprehensive treatment of the butterfly fauna of Manitoba. The introductory pages include such topics as butterflies in perspective, nomenclature, the differences between butterflies and moths, butterfly life histories, Manitoba as an environment for butterflies, Manitoba biomes, butterfly distribution, conservation, and study, with a brief historical perspective on early lepidopterists in Manitoba. The scientific treatment begins with the Hesperioidea and concludes with the Danaidae. Then follows a listing of potential and dubious species, a comprehensive list of references, and a glossary of terms. The six appendices include butterfly collecting methods, a list of larval and adult foodplants, a checklist of Manitoba butterflies, geographic locations (latitude and longitude) of collection sites with a map of major areas, summary of flight periods, and the Lepidopterists' Society's "Statement of the Committee on Collecting Policy." An index of species concludes the book.
Each species entry includes information and topics in the following order: common name, scientific name (author and date) with basic synonyms, plate and figure numbers, description, life cycle, habitat, range, Manitoba records, subspecies, general remarks. A dot distribution map accompanies each entry, with the dots color-coded for each family. The color plates are well done, and, for the most part, the specimen colors are natural (for museum specimens), while the plate backgrounds vary from white to antique-white. Specimens are shown life-size with three illustrations for each species: male dorsal, female dorsal, and ventral (male or female). Scientific nomenclature follows Klassen's 1984 Manitoba checklist published in J. Lepid. Soc. (38:32-39), and differs significantly in some groups from the 1981 Miller and Brown catalogue and other recent publications. The Miller and Brown names, however, are shown as synonyms. This is the only area in which I offer adverse criticism, as yet another set of scientific names is introduced, which only further muddles nomenclature.
Manitoba encompasses six vegetation zones ranging from tall grass prairie through boreal coniferous forest to arctic tundra. Consequently there is wide diversity among the 144 butterfly species recorded from this province. Although several subspecies have been described from Manitoba, there are no unique species. The dominant groups are Nym-phalidae (40 species), Hesperioidea (33), Lycaenidae (27), and Satyridae (19).
The Butterflies of Manitoba, with an overall format of 8 x 10", is nicely produced and has a pleasing aspect regarding the general layout. The text provides a wealth of information about Manitoba butterflies and is certainly "must" reading for any collector wishing to visit this Canadian province. This book is the most recent addition to the collection, from various publishers, of North American regional butterfly works that have appeared during the past several years. It will be a valuable addition to the bookshelf of any collector with an interest in the North American fauna.
Clifford D. Ferris, Bioengineering Program, University of Wyoming, P.O. Box 3295, University Station, Laramie, Wyoming 82071-3295.