Lasiopogon esau

McKnight, 2020

Lasiopogon esau is a of robber fly ( Asilidae) described by McKnight in 2020. The species epithet honors Katherine Esau (1898-1997), a renowned Ukrainian-born plant biologist and UC Davis professor emeritus who received the National Medal of Science. As a member of the Lasiopogon, this species belongs to a group of predatory flies known for their bristly bodies and ambush hunting .

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Lasiopogon esau: //læˈsaɪoʊˌpoʊɡɒn ˈɛsaʊ//

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Human Relevance

The name commemorates Katherine Esau, whose legacy is honored at UC Davis through the Katherine Esau Science Hall, which houses the Collection and other biodiversity collections. Esau was an internationally recognized plant biologist known for her work in plant anatomy and for receiving the National Medal of Science from President George H.W. Bush.

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Etymology

The specific epithet 'esau' was chosen to honor Katherine Esau (1898-1997), a distinguished plant biologist who spent much of her career at the University of California, Davis. The naming connects this robber fly to one of the most celebrated scientists associated with the institution where the was likely collected or where the describer was affiliated.

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