Taylor Swift earns bizarre new honour in Australia

Taylor Swift has received an unusual honour unrelated to her music, with researchers naming a newly discovered group of Australian insects after the global pop star.

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside have identified 12 new species of plant-eating insects. One of the newly identified groups has been given the name Swiftiephylus, inspired by Swift and her massive global fanbase, known as Swifties.

According to research published in the journal Insect Systematics and Evolution, four species have also been given Latin names reflecting Swift’s music and career. They include Swiftiephylus intrepidus, Swiftiephylus taylorae, Swiftiephylus amator and Swiftiephylus poetorum, drawing inspiration from titles and themes associated with the singer.

Researcher and co-author Sarah Schroeder, who described herself as a lifelong Swiftie, said the decision was a personal tribute to Swift while also helping highlight the diversity of insects that remains undiscovered.

Schroeder explained that the insects’ ability to blend into Australian she-oak trees contributed to the inspiration behind the naming. She also pointed to their appearance, noting that the insects have pale yellow colouring with red markings, which reminded her of Swift’s recognisable blonde hair and red-lip look.

The researcher further stressed the importance of naming and documenting newly discovered species. She said taxonomy plays a key role in conservation because species cannot be protected effectively if their existence has not been established.

The unusual honour comes amid recent reports claiming that Swift has been keeping some distance from longtime friend Ed Sheeran following a controversy involving one of his recent performances.

According to reports, Sheeran appeared at his MetLife Stadium concert alongside Macklemore, who performed a pro-Palestinian song while visuals related to Gaza were shown during the performance.

An alleged source claimed Swift remains fond of Sheeran but is cautious about being publicly associated with political controversies. The report suggested that her decision was more about protecting her public image than ending their friendship.

However, the claims about any rift between the longtime friends have not been independently confirmed by Swift or Sheeran.