Nutty Nomenclature
All species of organism are given their own specific name by the taxonomist who first describes them. Every now and again the taxonomists allow themselves to have a little bit of fun. This is our guide to some more mischievously named species.
Name: Eubetia bigaulae
Don’t get it? The name’s pronounced ‘you betcha by golly’
What is it? A moth in the family Tortricidae. These moths tend to be small, brown and a bit uninspiring, but in New York State no less than seventeen species of Tortricidae have gained pest status because they are such a nuisance to apple production.
Where’s it found? Venezuela.
When was it first named? 1999.
Who deserves the credit? John W. Brown – a research entomologist at the Smithsonian.
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Is there a picture? Yes, click on the thumbnail to get a bigger picture. The title image is actually a related species called Eucosma adamantana, which is a fine name in itself. However, it’s unlikely that it was named after either the 80’s pop star Adam Ant or the X-men’s mighty metal adamantium since this moth was christened in 1845.Coming soon in Nutty Nomenclature: Pieza rhea and Heerz lukenatcha.
You might also like some Peculiar Periodicals or Phunny Phobias.
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