Four newly identified insect species discovered in Australia have been named in honour of Taylor Swift. The tiny plant-eating bugs are part of a new genus, Swiftiephylus, which pays tribute to the singer and her fans, known as “Swifties”.
The individual species are named Swiftiephylus taylorae, Swiftiephylus amator, Swiftiephylus intrepidus, and Swiftiephylus poetorum. These Latin-inspired names reference Swift herself, along with her albums Lover, Fearless, and The Tortured Poets Department.
Sarah Schroeder, a doctoral student in entomology at the University of California, Riverside, named the insects. She noted their pale yellow colour with red markings, which she said echoes the 36-year-old singer’s signature look of blonde hair and red lipstick, referring to them as “blonde” in the paper.
Schroeder, a fan of Swift, expressed hope that the unusual names will also draw attention to the many insect species still awaiting discovery. She stated that taxonomy is crucial for conservation, as species cannot be conserved if their existence is unknown.