The Horse Flies and Deer Flies of Canada and Alaska

Ian Wylie Toal is a free-lance writer living in Flesherton, Ontario.

Teskey, a taxonomist at the Biosystematics Research Centre in Ottawa,
here presents a comprehensive taxonomic treatise of the family
Tabanidae. All 145 Canadian and Alaskan species are included in the
volume, along with 5 U.S. species that might stray into Canada.

This latest entry in the Insects and Arachnids of Canada series follows
a format similar to that used in the previous 15 volumes. After a brief
introduction to the morphology, life history, and distribution of horse
flies and deer flies, there appears an identification key to subfamily
and genus. Next come keys to species found in each genus, and a complete
taxonomic description of the males and females for each species. Each
description also includes some remarks about the species in question, as
well as a map showing all locations in Canada and Alaska where specimens
have been collected.

Although intended for specialist readers, this book will be accessible
to nonspecialists with entomological or biological backgrounds. The
identification keys are clearly written (in French and English), and
although they do not have as many illustrations as might be desirable,
they do provide good illustrations of general morphology to guide the
reader, along with a glossary. Insect names are indexed by species as
well as genus. The taxonomic descriptions are thorough and detailed, and
the distribution maps are backed up by a short piece of text. Personal
anecdotes enliven the text and underscore the author’s familiarity
with these insects.