Taylor Swift fan helps discover 12 insect species, names 4 after singer and albums
An entomology doctoral student has named a new genus of Australian insects after Taylor Swift and her albums. The discovery of these 12 species highlights the importance of taxonomy in insect conservation.
Why it matters
It demonstrates how pop culture can be leveraged to increase public interest in scientific discovery and biodiversity conservation.
Taylor Swift has inspired songs, fashion and fan culture around the world, but her latest namesake comes from an unexpected corner of science: a newly described genus of Australian plant-feeding insects. According to the University of California, Riverside (UC Riverside), entomology doctoral student Sarah Schroeder, a lifelong Swift fan, helped describe 12 previously unknown insect species and named one new genus and four species in tribute to the singer and her music. The genus, Swiftiephylus, contains four species whose scientific names draw on Swift's name and several of her albums. The discovery also highlights how taxonomy can bring attention to insect diversity and conservation.A new genus inspired by a lifelong SwiftieThe new genus is called Swiftiephylus, combining “Swiftie,” the common term for Taylor Swift's fans, with “Phylus,” a name frequently used for this group of insects.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in