Common names for Asilidae

Not super relevant to the post

but sort of related is something I have been wondering about. I came across this page: https://bugguide.net/node/view/39364/bgpage and I thought it kind of defeated the purpose if three, closely related genera all have the same common name. I mean, if they all are really often called Goggle eyes, why not name the subfamily that?

Similarly, here: https://bugguide.net/node/view/471518/bgpage?from=5, where Protocalliphora and Trypocalliphora are named "Bird Blow Flies." In this case it is a little more understandable, because all genera in the subfamily don't have that name and Blow flies don't have as many, readily-available common names to choose from. But still, doesn't multiple genera with the same common name seem confusing?

… Bugologist1, 25 August, 2024 - 4:45pm

good points

I put a note on the subfamily page (Trigonomiminae) under "other common names".
I think the answer is that genera often get moved among subfamilies, so there is perhaps a danger in assigning official common names for higher level taxa. It is difficult enough to come up with something useful for species.
Back when I started editing BugGuide (2004) I had the ambition to suggest common names for everything. I realized pretty quickly that was not practical, as there are just too many species of insects. A few of the notable groups now have English common names developed by people knowledgeable in the field, and that is great.
For a while I was also trying to add French and Spanish common names for the larger groups at least, but that never caught on with the other editors. I would really like to see some Native American/First Nation names added as well, but there are not ready sources online, and I certainly do not have the expertise to find them.
I think common names will always be something of a mess, so I gave up worrying about them. Perhaps some here would like to form a work group to develop some?

… Cotinis, 25 August, 2024 - 6:16pm