{
  "id": 15146229,
  "title": "Four new species, one pop star: The new insect genus named after Taylor Swift",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/four-new-species-one-pop-star-the-new-insect-genus-named-after-taylor-15146229",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-17T07:00:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/pets-animals/four-new-species-one-pop-star-the-new-insect-genus-named-after-taylor-swift-10916705/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Taylor Swift has inspired not only millions of music fans but also a new group of scientifically named insects native to Australia. Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, have described 12 new species of plant bugs in a study published in the journal Insect Systematics and Evolution. Among these, four species have been named after the pop star and her albums in recognition of her influence. The new genus, Swiftiephylus, combines the term \"Swiftie\" for Swift's fans with \"Phylus,\" a common name for this group of insects. The four Swift-inspired species include Swiftiephylus taylorae, Swiftiephylus amator, Swiftiephylus intrepidus, and Swiftiephylus poetorum, each representing a different album by Swift – Lover, Lover, Fearless, and The Tortured Poets Department. The decision to name the insects after Taylor Swift came from Sarah Schroeder, a doctoral student in entomology and a devoted Swift fan. Schroeder aimed to draw attention to insect diversity and conservation efforts through this unusual tribute. The insects are pale yellow or cream-colored with red markings, resembling Swift's blonde hair and red lips. Being closely associated with Australian she-oaks, their coloration may aid in camouflage against the plants' reddish-orange flowers. The newly described insects belong to the family Miridae, which is the largest family of true bugs, with over 11,000 described species. While they are not known to be pests, researchers collected the specimens decades ago during a biodiversity project initiated in the 1990s. The discovery underscores the importance of taxonomy and conservation, as many species still remain undocumented.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express - Lifestyle",
        "title": "Four new species, one pop star: The new insect genus named after Taylor Swift",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/four-new-species-one-pop-star-the-new-insect-genus-named-after-taylor",
        "published": "2026-10-17T07:00:25.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}