Newly Discovered Plant-Eating Insects Named After Taylor Swift
Variety • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Researchers at the University of California, Riverside have named a new genus of plant-feeding insects from Australia Swiftiephylus, inspired by Taylor Swift and her fanbase, with four species named after the singer and her albums.
- The Swiftiephylus insects are closely associated with Australian she-oaks and exhibit cream-and-red coloration that helps them camouflage among the plants, reminiscent of Taylor Swift’s blonde hair and red lips.
- Entomology doctoral student Sarah Schroeder named the insects after Swift to raise awareness about insect diversity and conservation, emphasizing the importance of taxonomy in protecting unknown species.
- The insect specimens were collected between 1995 and 2004 during a large biodiversity survey but have only recently been formally described after extensive taxonomic work.
- UC Riverside researchers have previously named species after celebrities, including a worm named after Jeff Daniels, highlighting a trend of honoring public figures through scientific nomenclature.
