Beyoncé has had plenty of triumphs as of late, from her successful 2011 album 4 to the birth (and subsequent record-breaking chart appearance) of her daughter Blue Ivy Carter. We somehow get the idea that Beyoncé might not quite as excited about her latest accomplishment, however: scientists have named a fly after her.
Naming a rare variety of horse fly after Beyoncé might sound like a peculiar way to pay tribute, but according to Bryan Lessard of Australian science organization CSIRO, the choice isn't actually an insult. Rather, he considers this fly -- now called the Scaptia (Plinthina) beyonceae fly -- to be the "all-time diva of flies."
So how can a fly be a diva? "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 as well as giving me the chance to demonstrate the fun side of taxonomy -- the naming of species," the Telegraph quotes Lessard as saying.
In other words, the fly was named after Beyoncé because it has a golden butt (see above). Fittingly, it was first collected in 1981 -- the year of Beyoncé's birth.
Thanks to AUX for the tip.
Naming a rare variety of horse fly after Beyoncé might sound like a peculiar way to pay tribute, but according to Bryan Lessard of Australian science organization CSIRO, the choice isn't actually an insult. Rather, he considers this fly -- now called the Scaptia (Plinthina) beyonceae fly -- to be the "all-time diva of flies."
So how can a fly be a diva? "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 as well as giving me the chance to demonstrate the fun side of taxonomy -- the naming of species," the Telegraph quotes Lessard as saying.
In other words, the fly was named after Beyoncé because it has a golden butt (see above). Fittingly, it was first collected in 1981 -- the year of Beyoncé's birth.
Thanks to AUX for the tip.
