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SI Entomology Staff
F. Christian Thompson, Adjunct Scientist, Diptera
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Related Websites:
http://www.nadsdiptera.org/index.htm
http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cee/FLYTREE/flyothercollab.htm
Research Interests:
For the past 45 years the systematics and zoogeography of flower flies has been and continues to be my research focus. Flower flies are critical as pollinators, predators of plant pests and re-cyclers of environmental wastes. While I have written about flower flies from all regions, my primary areas of interests are the New World, Australia and New Zealand.
My current research projects include: Flower flies of Costa Rica; Nearctic flower flies; and Genera of flower flies.
I serve as editor of the Systema Dipterorum (http://www.diptera.org)
I have also served for more than 10 years on the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature and on the editorial committee for the current edition of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, and thus can provide advice on all matters of zoological nomenclature.
My collection responsibilities at the Smithsonian include curation of the following Diptera families: Anisopodidae, Anthomyidae, Asilidae, Axymyiidae, Braulidae, Bibionidae, Bolitophilidae, Braulidae, Conopidae, Diadocidiidae, Ditomyiidae, Hesperinidae, Ironomyiidae, Keroplatidae, Lonchopteridae, Lygistorrhinidae, Mantotidae, Mormotomyiidae, Mycetophilidae, Opetiidae, Perisommatidae, Phoridae, Pipunculide, Platypezidae, Scathophagidae, Sciadoceridae, Syrphidae, and Therevidae.
Identification: Generic identifications for most groups, species identifications for Syrphidae. Please inquire first before submitting material for identification as we may be able to recommend other experts to better serve your requests.
Selected Publications:
Ashworth, A. C. & Thompson, F. C. 2003. A fly in the biogeographic ointment. Nature 423: 135-135. 
Thompson, F. C. 2003. Nomenclature and classification, principle of. Pp. 798-807. In Resh, V. H. & Carde, R. T. (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Insects. Xxviii + 1266 pp. Academic Press [2003.03.26]
Thompson, F. C. (Editor). 1999. Fruit fly expert system and systematic information database. Myia 9, ix + 524 pp.
Thompson, F. C. 1997. Revision of the Eristalis flower flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) of the Americas south of the United States. Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 99: 209-237.
Thompson, F. C. 1996. Names: The keys to Biodiversity. Chapter 13, pp. 199-216. in Reaka-Kudla, M. L., Wilson, D. & Wilson, E. O. (eds.), Biodiversity II. Understanding and protecting our biological resources. v + 551 pp. Joseph Henry Press, Washington.
Thompson, F. C. and A. Pont. 1994. Systematic Database of Musca Names (Diptera). Theses Zool. 20, 221 pp.
Thompson, F. C. (Coordinator) 1990. Automatic Data Processing for Systematic Entomology: Promises and Problems. A report for the Entomological Collections Network. Baton Rouge. 50 pp.
Thompson, F. C. 1990. Biosystematic information - Dipterists ride the third wave. Pp. 179-201. In Kosztarab, M., and C. W. Schefer (eds.). Systematics of the North American Insects and Arachnids: Status and Needs. Virginia Agric. Exp. Stn Inf. Ser. 90-1. 247 pp. + xii.
Knutson, L., Thompson, F. C., and R. W. Carlson. 1987. Biosystematic and biological control information systems in Entomology. Agric. Zool. Rev. 2:361-412.
Thompson, F. C. and L. Knutson 1987. Catalogues, checklists and lists: A need for some definitions, new words, and ideas. Antenna 11:131-134.
Thompson, F. C. 1981. Flower flies of the West Indies (Diptera: Syrphidae). Mem. Entomol. Soc. Washington 9, 200 pp.
A Complete list of publications (1965-2006) is also available as well as links to downloadable Adobe PDF files for many of these publications.
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