Species Complexes in Asilidae

Very useful, instead of Laphria sp. we can narrow it down to more useful ID's. e.g. Laphria aktis/sericea and L. canis/sicula/winnemana..

I think it's a good idea too, for photos not backed up by specimens. Another Laphria would be L index/ithypyga.

Looks good, how about just removing the first word "complex", having it repeat like that really does not roll off the tongue well.

Are you sure? I was able to create this: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/894751-Laphria-canis

Weird - maybe I was doing it wrong.

Ok, I think I fixed the names

Diogmites angustipennis / bilobatus / texanus would be another good one.

A recent discussion about species complexes on another journal post brought up some points I would like to address here. @tristanmcknight @quaedfliegh @bradmoon @rogue_biologist

Tristan asked whether the computer vision suggestions have incorporated the Laphria species complexes (let's call these Phase 1). Looking at observations of the three complexes posted in July 2021, I would estimate that at least 40-50% of those had an initial CV suggestion for the relevant complex. So it appears that the CV has in fact incorporated our complexes and should do the same for future ones.

Tristan also mentioned his concerns about iNat species complex records be converted to s.s. species when imported into GBIF. This is certainly a data quality issue for GBIF, but personally I don't see this as our responsibility. I prefer to prioritize tools (like the species complex) that make identification more efficient for us on this platform.

I have compiled a list of candidate Phase 2 species complexes based on the discussion mentioned above. I consider this to be a second, broader trial phase to see how these taxa perform before opening the proverbial floodgates on species complexes. Let me know which complexes should be the highest priority to include in this phase. I will create these taxa once I've gotten some feedback on the list below. Also note that with this list we are beginning to stray from the curator guidelines in that many of these complexes are not named explicitly in the literature. If you see that as a problem let me know.

Phase 2
Complex Choerades marginata (dioctriaeformis, femorata, marginata, mouchai)
Complex Diogmites angustipennis (angustipennis, bilobatus)
Complex Efferia aestuans (aestuans, kondratieffi)
Complex Holcocephala abdominalis (abdominalis, fusca)
Complex Machimus chrysitis (chrysitis, chrysitis nigrofemoratus, fortis, subdolus)
Complex Promachus rufipes (hinei, rufipes) [especially useful for purported hybrid observations]
Complex Promachus bastardii (bastardii, dimidiatus, texanis, quadratus)
Complex Stenopogon junceus (cervinus, elongatus, junceus)

Edit: removed D. texanus from Complex Diogmites angustipennis