SCIENTISTS NAME FOUR NEW INSECT SPECIES AFTER TAYLOR SWIFT

RIVERSIDE, SEPTEMBER 10 /SRNA/ — Four newly identified insect species have been named after US pop superstar Taylor Swift, with scientists placing them in a newly established genus, Swiftiephylus, the University of California, Riverside said.

Within the genus, researchers identified four species named after the singer and her albums: Swiftiephylus taylorae, Swiftiephylus amator, Swiftiephylus intrepidus and Swiftiephylus poetorum.

The names are Latinized versions of "Taylor" and the titles of Swift's albums Lover, Fearless and The Tortured Poets Department.

The university said the insects belong to the soft-bodied beetle family. Sara Schroeder, a doctoral student and co-author of the study, said she hoped naming the insects after Swift would help draw greater attention to insect conservation.

"As a forever fan, it felt authentic to pay tribute to Taylor Swift in this way while also bringing attention to the diversity of insects that has yet to be discovered," Schroeder said in a statement published by the university.

She added that the insects' appearance was another reason for naming them after Swift.

"They have red-orange structures on their pale bodies that resemble flowers. Taylor Swift is known for her blonde hair and red lips. These insects are pale yellow with red accents throughout," she said.

The four new species are herbivores and are closely associated with the Australian plant genus Allocasuarina.

The insects were discovered between 1995 and 2004 as part of a biodiversity project involving American and Australian researchers. At the time, scientists collected 50,000 specimens that had to be sorted, analyzed and identified.