New Species of Horse Fly Named After Beyonce

Posted on January 13, 2012

A previously un-named species of horse fly has been named after singer Beyonce. The fly, Scaptia (Plinthina) beyonceae, has a golden lower abdomen. The fly was named by CSIRO's Bryan Lessard. He says the fly's spectacular gold color makes it the "all time diva of flies."

Lessard says, "It was the unique dense golden hairs on the fly's abdomen that led me to name this fly in honour of the performer Beyonce as well as giving me the chance to demonstrate the fun side of taxonomy - the naming of species."

The rare Scaptia (Plinthina) beyonceae species of horse fly was collected in 1981 - the same year Beyonce was born - from north-east Queensland's Atherton Tablelands.

INSECTS