New Insect Genus and Species Named After Taylor Swift by Scientists
A new genus of herbivorous insects, Swiftiephylus, has been named after pop megastar Taylor Swift. This honor, announced in a study published in the Insect Systematics and Evolution journal, includes four new species within the genus also dedicated to Swift and her albums. The genus name 'Swiftiephylus' combines 'Swiftie,' referring to Swift's fanbase, with 'Phylus,' a common element in the names of this insect group. The four species are specifically named Swiftiephylus taylorae (after Taylor Swift), Swiftiephylus amator (linked to her album 'Lover'), Swiftiephylus intrepidus (echoing her album 'Fearless'), and Swiftiephylus poetorum (referencing 'The Tortured Poets Department'). Sarah Schroeder, a graduate student in entomology at the University of California, Riverside, and a co-author of the study, is a long-time fan of Swift and initiated the naming to honor the singer and draw attention to the understudied world of insects. The insects, which live on Australian casuarinas, are described as having lig...
