Rainbow Fly Species Named After RuPaul.
Rainbow Fly Species Named After RuPaul.
On Sept. 15, Australian entomologists announced they have named a fly species after the iconic drag queen.
The soldier fly,
whose Latin name is
Opaluma rupaul,
boasts bold rainbow colors.
Bryan Lessard of Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) named the species.
I'd been watching a lot of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' when I was examining the specimen under the microscope, so it was on my mind!, Bryan Lessard, via statement.
I'd been watching a lot of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' when I was examining the specimen under the microscope, so it was on my mind!, Bryan Lessard, via statement.
And I really wanted to give this group of flies a memorable name because it needs the attention -- ... , Bryan Lessard, via statement.
... the first specimen of this RuPaul fly was collected over a hundred years ago and sat neglected in a museum collection until someone with the knowledge of that group came along to name and document them, Bryan Lessard, via statement.
Opaluma rupaul isn't the first species to be named after a pop culture figure.
CSIRO has also named three rare beetles after Pokémon characters Articuno, Moltres and Zapdos.
CSIRO has also named three rare beetles after Pokémon characters Articuno, Moltres and Zapdos.
CSIRO has also named three rare beetles after Pokémon characters Articuno, Moltres and Zapdos.
CSIRO has also named three rare beetles after Pokémon characters Articuno, Moltres and Zapdos.
and 10 years ago, Lessard named the
Scaptia beyonceae fly after Beyoncé.
As a gay scientist, it took
me a long time to feel
comfortable in my own
skin in a very traditional
field of science -- in entomology, Bryan Lessard, via statement.
I think it's really important for the next generation of LGBTQ+ scientists to know that they're being represented in the workplace, as we give the names of legends in the community to memorable species, Bryan Lessard, via statement