This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Taylor Swift is now the namesake of a genus of plant-feeding insects from Australia that were previously unknown to science. Sarah Schroeder, a UC Riverside doctoral student in entomology, hopes that naming these insects after the singer will bring attention to the insects themselves and insect conservation more generally.
"It felt authentic to me as a lifelong Swiftie to honor Taylor in this way, as well as bring attention to the diversity of insects that has yet to be discovered," Schroeder said. A paper describing 12 new species of insects was published today in the journal Insect Systematics and Evolution. Of these, one genus has been named Swiftiephylus, and it contains four species whose names are inspired by the artist and several of her albums: Swiftiephylus taylorae, Swiftiephylus amator, Swiftiephylus intrepidus and Swiftiephylus poetorum.
The names are Latin versions of Taylor, lover, fearless and poets, respectively. The genus name combines "Swiftie," the term for Swift's fans, with Phylus, a name commonly used for this group of insects. These new insects are not known to be pests to humans or animals.
They are part of a family called Miridae, the largest family of true bugs, with more than 11,000 described species worldwide. The family includes plant feeders and predators, as well as insects with highly specialized lifestyles. The newly described species are closely associated with Australian she-oaks, trees and shrubs adapted to environments ranging from tropical forests to coastal dunes and extreme heat.
Many plant bugs spend their entire lives on a particular host plant, from hatching through adulthood and egg laying. Though they feed on the trees, they aren't known to harm them. One reason Schroeder named the new insects for Swift has to do with their appearance.
She believes their coloring helps them camouflage among she-oak flowers, which feature spindly red-to-orange structures. The paper notes that similar cream-and-red coloration has been observed in distantly related bugs living on the same plants, suggesting camouflage may have evolved independently multiple times. "Taylor Swift's iconic look is her blonde hair and red lips.
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