**Strengths: distribution maps for species in North and South America, good history of early researchers, nice cladograms, nice drawings of all species, brief descriptions of behavior and habits of ants in North and South America, fun to read. **Weaknesses: not comprehensive, keys are difficult, does not directly address Bolton's synonomy of Pogonomyrmex and Ephebomyrmex

One reviewer thought that the author did not provide reasons for disagreeing with someone else's view that the two harvester ant genera should be seen as only one genus instead of two. In reality, it is this book that provides the only analysis of the problem. It was an unfair criticism.

Dr. Taber has come up with a practical and informative narrative style that told me everything I couldn't find elsewhwere in a straight forward, convincing manner. I am persuaded that the chromosone distinction he has drawn between the Pogos and Ephobos is a conclusive evidence of different genera and a more scientific key than the often jumbled attempts to describe morphological characteristics which leave much to be desired.

I am curious who did his excellent ant drawings? If one were to focus in on the gasters depicted, and could use these reliably and with ease under a microscope, it would certainly be a lot quicker to identify specimens than looking for offset teeth, non-concentric rugae or trying to differentiate amongst verbal descriptions of epinotal armature when a single species may have more than one variety of worker in the same colony.

Mr. Taber's book is a must for any serious myrmecologist or wanna-be scientist. My own work on the diet and nutrition of horned lizards (Phrynosoma) led me to this excellent book. I would like to talk to and/or meet Dr. Taber and commend him personally for opening the door to my better understanding of Neartic harvester ants.

Buy this book. Don't even think about it. It is positively the latest thinking and best for its manageble size on the market.

R. Joseph Collet JD Horned Lizard Study Center 2330 Guardian Circle St. George, UT 84790 FAX (435) 628-4492

A fascinating book. While it also includes a well illustrated taxonomic key, I found its main strength to be the discussion of the fire ants' biology and ecology. If you liked Dr. Taber's Harvester Ant book, you will probably also like this one.