Four newly identified insect species have been named after Taylor Swift. Found in Australia, the tiny plant-eating bugs form part of a new genus called Swiftiephylus, paying tribute to the singer and her dedicated fans, known as “Swifties”. The individual species are Swiftiephylus taylorae, Swiftiephylus amator, Swiftiephylus intrepidus and Swiftiephylus poetorum.
The Latin-inspired titles reference Swift herself, alongside her albums Lover, Fearless, and The Tortured Poets Department. The insects are pale yellow with red markings, echoing the 36-year-old singer’s signature look of blonde hair and red lipstick. Sarah Schroeder, a doctoral student in entomology at the University of California, Riverside, named the insects.
She said: “Taylor Swift’s iconic look is her blonde hair and red lips. These insects are pale yellow with accents of red throughout. She said: “It felt authentic to me as a lifelong Swiftie to honour Taylor in this way, as well as bring attention to the diversity of insects that has yet to be discovered.” The Swift-inspired bugs are among 12 new species described by scientists in the journal Insect Systematics and Evolution.
Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. They belong to Miridae – the world’s largest family of true bugs, containing more than 11,000 known species.
The insects were collected in Australia between 1995 and 2004 and had been sitting in museum collections waiting to be formally identified. Schroeder and her adviser, entomology professor Christiane Weirauch, examined 593 specimens borrowed from the American Museum of Natural History and the Australian Museum. The newly named bugs live closely alongside Australian she-oaks and feed on the plants, although they are not known to cause damage.
Scientists believe their cream-and-red colouring could act as camouflage among the red and orange structures of she-oak flowers. Researchers say millions of insect species may still be unknown to science – making the work of finding and formally naming them important for conservation. Schroeder said: “Taxonomy is the cornerstone of conservation.
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