Scientists have named a newly described genus of Australian plant-feeding insects Swiftiephylus, in tribute to Taylor Swift and her fans.
The new genus includes four species with names inspired by the singer and her music: Swiftiephylus taylorae, Swiftiephylus amator, Swiftiephylus intrepidus and Swiftiephylus poetorum — references to Taylor, Lover, Fearless and The Tortured Poets Department.
The insects are closely associated with Australian she-oak trees and belong to the Miridae family, the largest family of true bugs. They are plant feeders and are not known to be harmful to people or animals.
The naming was led by Sarah Schroeder, a doctoral student in entomology at the University of California, Riverside, who described herself as a lifelong Swiftie. She said the tribute was also intended to bring attention to insect diversity and the importance of taxonomy and conservation.
There was even a visual connection behind the choice. The insects are pale yellow with red accents, colors Schroeder compared to Swift’s familiar blonde-hair-and-red-lip look. Researchers believe the coloring may help the insects blend in among the flowers of she-oak trees.
Although the insects are newly described by science, the specimens themselves were collected in Australia between 1995 and 2004 and spent years in museum collections before being formally studied and classified.
The study describing the insects was published in Insect Systematics and Evolution and included 12 newly described species in total.
Sources: UC Riverside | Insect Systematics and Evolution | EurekAlert | Los Angeles Times
By NJ RADAR Team