A genus of Australian plant-feeding insects has been named in honor of pop superstar Taylor Swift, with four of the 12 newly identified species bearing names directly inspired by the artist and her discography. The genus, Swiftiephylus, combines the term "Swiftie" for her fans with "Phylus," a common suffix for this insect group.
Sarah Schroeder, a doctoral student in entomology at UC Riverside and lead author of the study published in Insect Systematics and Evolution, stated that naming the genus after Swift felt authentic as a lifelong fan and aimed to draw attention to the diversity of undiscovered insects. Scientists hope that associating the insects with a globally recognized figure will promote interest and conservation efforts.
The four species named after Swift are Swiftiephylus taylorae, Swiftiephylus amator, Swiftiephylus intrepidus, and Swiftiephylus poetorum. In Latin, these names translate to Taylor, lover, fearless, and poets, respectively. The insects belong to the family Miridae, which comprises over 11,000 species of plant feeders and predators. The Swiftiephylus genus is not known to harm humans or animals.
Schroeder noted a visual similarity between the insects and Swift's public image, describing the bugs as "pale yellow with accents of red throughout," reminiscent of Swift's signature blonde hair and red lips. The insects spend most of their lives in Australian she-oaks, a type of tree that thrives in tropical forests and coastal dunes and can withstand extreme heat. These insects feed on the she-oaks but do not cause them harm.
The specimens were collected between 1995 and 2004 as part of a large biodiversity initiative between the American Museum of Natural History and Australian collaborators. This extensive collection yielded over 50,000 specimens that have required years of taxonomic analysis. Schroeder studied 593 specimens to understand insect species distribution, diversification, and plant relationships, with the ultimate goal of informing conservation strategies.
This is not the first time an insect has been named in honor of Swift. In 2022, a scientist named a millipede Nannaria swiftae after the singer.