A Fly Called Iyaiyai

Science News, May 26, 2001 by Susan Milius

HONORS LIST

Avalanchurus lennoni, Avalanchurus starri, and Struszia mccartneyi Edgecombe and Chatterton, 1993 (trilobites). Beatles turn into real arthropods.

Arcticalymene viciousi, A. rotteni, A. jonesi, A. cooki, and A. matlocki Adrain and Edgecombe, 1997 (trilobites). Unexpected venue for The Sex Pistols.

Cuttysarkus Estes, 1964 (fossil lizard).

Jurassosaurus nedegoapeferkimorum Dong and Holden, 1992 (ankylosaur). One highly fragmented fossil honors "Jurassic Park" stars NEil, DErn, GOldblum, Attenborough, PEck, FERrero, Knight, Richards, and Mazzello.

Mozartella beethoveni Girault, 1926 (wasp).

Petula Clark, 1971 (tineid).

Polemistus chewbacca Menke, 1983 (wasp). Doesn't need a "Star Wars" spaceship to fly, though.

Strigiphilus garylarsoni Clayton, 1989 (owl louse). Hard to think of any cartoonist who's drawn more insects.

THEY REALLY DID THIS

Abra cadabra Eames and Wilkins 1957 (bivalve). Has been moved to another genus, alas, and now goes by Theora cadabra.

Apopyllus now Platnick and Shadab, 1984 (spider).

Ba humbugi Solem, 1983 (snail). From Mba island, Fiji.

Chrysops balzaphire Philip, 1955 (deer fly).

Dicrotendipes thanatogratus Epler, 1987 (midge). Yes, that second word really does mean Grateful Dead.

Gluteus minimus Davis and Semken, 1975 (fossil). No known relation to anybody's maximus.

Heerz tooya Marsh, 1993 (wasp).

Kamera lens Woodcock, 1917 (protist).

La cucaracha Blesynski, 1966 (pyralid).

Lalapa lusa Pate, 1947 (tiphiid wasp).

Ochisme, Dolichisme, Marichisme, and Peggichisme Kirkaldy, 1904 (all hemiptera). That chis sounds like "kiss."

Omyomymar Schauff, 1983 (mymarid wasp).

Oops Agassiz, 1846 (arachnid) and Germar, 1848 (beetle). Named before the interjection became popular, however.

Pison eu Menke, 1988 (sphecid).

Tabanus nippontucki Philip, 1942 (horse fly). Described during the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Tabanus rhizonshine Philip, 1954 (horse fly).

Vini vidivici Steadman and Zariello, 1987 (parrot). Overly optimistic since the species recently went extinct.

Ytu brutus Spangler, 1980 (beetle).