A Swiftie's Scientific Discovery
Sarah Schroeder, a doctoral student at the University of California, Riverside, found a new insect species. She named it after Taylor Swift. Schroeder, an entomology student, wanted to highlight insects that haven't been studied much. She felt naming it after Swift was a great way to do this.
"It felt authentic to me as a lifelong Swiftie to honor Taylor in this way," Schroeder said. She also wanted to draw attention to the many undiscovered insects.
Schroeder published her study in the journal Brill. It introduced 12 new insect species. She named a group of Australian plant-eating insects Swiftiephylus after Taylor Swift. This was not just for attention. It also honored the insect's look.
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Start Your News Detox"Taylor Swift’s iconic look is her blonde hair and red lips," Schroeder explained. "These insects are pale yellow with accents of red throughout. In the paper I refer to them as blonde."
The Swiftiephylus group includes four species. Their names are nods to Swift: Swiftiephylus taylorae, Swiftiephylus amator, Swiftiephylus intrepidus, and Swiftiephylus poetorum. These are Latin for Taylor, lover, fearless, and poets.
Why Naming Matters
Schroeder believes taxonomy, which is the naming and classifying of species, is key for conservation. "If we don’t describe species, we don’t know they exist and can’t conserve them," she noted. Naming these species after Taylor Swift helps bring attention to conservation science and the many unknown species.
This isn't the first time pop culture has inspired scientists. In August, a new horned lizard in Thailand was named Acanthosaura syrax after a dragon from "House of the Dragon." A glossy black wolf snake, Lycodon irwini, was named after Steve Irwin. A soft coral, Iridogorgia chewbacca, was named after Chewbacca from "Star Wars."
In 2023, actor Harrison Ford inspired the name of a new snake species, Tachymenoides harrisonfordi. It was found in Peru's Andes Mountains. Ford said the discovery was humbling. He noted it reminds us how much there is to learn about our world. He also stressed that all fates are connected and we must protect nature.
