Rabat — A new scientific study has given Taylor Swift an unexpected honor: four newly identified insect species have been named after the singer and her music.
Published on September 9 in Insect Systematics and Evolution, the paper describes 12 new insect species, including four whose names reference Swift and several of her albums.
One newly established genus is called Swiftiephylus, combining “Swiftie,” the name used for Swift’s fanbase, with “phylus,” a term commonly used in insect taxonomy.
Others were given names inspired by her albums: Swiftiephylus taylorae, Swiftiephylus amator, Swiftiephylus intrepidus, and Swiftiephylus poetorum.
These names are Latin-inspired versions of “Taylor,” “Lover,” “Fearless,” and “Poets,” respectively.
The face behind the discovery is Sarah Schroeder, a UC Riverside doctoral student in entomology.
“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 in a statement provided by the university.
The journey of Swiftie insects
According to UC Riverside, Swiftiephylus insects have a close association with She-oak, trees and shrubs, while also being adapted to different environments, from tropical forests to tropical dunes and areas of extreme heat.
The plant-dwelling insects have their own lifestyle, spending most of their lives on a host plant from the moment their eggs hatch until adulthood.
Researcher Schroeder also chose the superstar’s name based on the insects’ appearance. The insects have spindly red-to-orange structures, while similar cream-and-red coloration has been observed in distantly related bugs living on the same plants.
This suggests that camouflage may have evolved independently multiple times.
These features reminded Schroeder of Taylor Swift’s iconic signature look, particularly her blonde hair and red lips.
For Schroeder, linking this project to Taylor Swift gives her an opportunity to attract a wider audience to this aspect of science and to turn the tribute to the artist into a way to draw attention to a world that still harbors millions of unknown species.
From songs and albums to insects, Taylor Swift’s influence has clearly found its way into some unexpected places.
While Swifties may be used to seeing references to their favorite artist everywhere, they can now add the natural world to the list.
