September 14, 2026, 3:22 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
Blonde hair and red lips are among Taylor Swift’s trademarks. Now, four tiny bug species have been named after the singer and her albums. Even their colors match: They are light yellow with red accents. Their new genus is called Swiftiephylus, inspired by Taylor Swift and her fans, the Swifties.
From “Lover” to “Fearless”
This new genus includes four insect species whose names may sound familiar to Swifties:
- Swiftiephylus taylorae bears the singer’s name.
- Swiftiephylus amator references the album “Lover.” The Latin word “amator” means lover.
- Swiftiephylus intrepidus is named after “Fearless.” “Intrepidus” translates to fearless.
- Swiftiephylus poetorum is a nod to “The Tortured Poets Department.”
The insects are only a few millimeters in size, about three to five millimeters depending on the species. Their bodies are predominantly light yellow or “blonde” with scattered red spots, stripes, or tips. These red accents are particularly noticeable in Swiftiephylus amator.1
Are Stink Bugs a Threat to Pets?
Beetles That Look Like Small Gold Coins? A Biologist Expalins the Effect
The bugs camouflage among flowers
Behind the prominent names is an extensive scientific study. Researchers analyzed 593 specimens collected in Australia between 1995 and 2004. The insects live on casuarina plants, whose inflorescences also have reddish and light tones. Their similar coloring may help the bugs blend in with the plants. Since unrelated species have developed similar color patterns, researchers suspect this camouflage evolved independently multiple times.
Overall, Sarah Schroeder and Christiane Weirauch describe twelve new species from five new genera in their study published in the journal Insect Systematics & Evolution. For eleven of the twelve species, the researchers also examined the DNA to determine their relationships more precisely.
Also of interest: Taylor Swift’s otter shirt sparks an incredible wave of donations
They waited decades for their names
It’s also curious how long the bugs have been known without being scientifically described. The specimens studied were collected more than 20 years ago and subsequently stored in museum collections. Only the detailed examination of their body structure, coloring, and DNA revealed that they included previously unknown species.
With the names, Schroeder, a longtime Swiftie by her own account, aims not only to honor Taylor Swift. The unusual naming is also intended to draw attention to the many insect species still awaiting scientific discovery.