italicized latin names

[John Trueman]

>>On April 4, Alan Harvey wrote:
>>
>>>I've been asked by our publications department (popular press) why
>>>generic and specific scientific names are italicized/underlined, but
>>>not any of the higher ranks.  To be truthful, I'd never really given
>>>it much thought.  The Z-Code recommends this arrangement, but doesn't
>>>give the underlying rationale.  Anyone know the story/history behind
>>>this (he asks, hoping the answer's not pitifully obvious)?
>

In Odonata (dragonflies), how else is one to distinguish between genus
*Lestoidea* Tillyard, and superfamily Lestoidea?  The latter is, of course,
based on type genus *Lestes* Leach.  *Lestoidea* conventionally is placed
in family Lestoideidae within Lestoidea, but placements outside of
Lestoidea have been suggested.

John