For Science of the Day
•
Thu
Jan12
![For Science of the Day: A rare Scaptia (Plinthina) horse fly, which has gone unnamed since being discovered in 1981, shall henceforth be known as Scaptia (Plinthina) beyoncae in honor of world-renowned recording artist Beyoncé.
Why? Researcher Bryan Lessard of CSIRO’s Australian National Insect Collection says he felt the fly’s gold-colored abdomen made it “the all time diva of flies.”
“It was the unique dense golden hairs on the fly’s abdomen that led me to name this fly in honour of the performer Beyoncé,” Lessard said, “as well as giving me the chance to demonstrate the fun side of taxonomy - the naming of species.”
[nzherald / ninemsn.]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxpn1yB2oD1qzpwi0o1_500.jpg)
For Science of the Day: A rare Scaptia (Plinthina) horse fly, which has gone unnamed since being discovered in 1981, shall henceforth be known as Scaptia (Plinthina) beyoncae in honor of world-renowned recording artist Beyoncé.
Why? Researcher Bryan Lessard of CSIRO’s Australian National Insect Collection says he felt the fly’s gold-colored abdomen made it “the all time diva of flies.”
“It was the unique dense golden hairs on the fly’s abdomen that led me to name this fly in honour of the performer Beyoncé,” Lessard said, “as well as giving me the chance to demonstrate the fun side of taxonomy - the naming of species.”
