Opaluma rupaul. Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, says the insect “forms part of the new Australian genus Opaluma (from the Latin words for opal and thorn), to reflect the iridescent colors of flies in this group and the distinctive thorn on the underside of their abdomens.”The fly was named by Dr.
Bryan Lessard, who has now named around 50 insects, beginning with a fly named after Beyoncé (Scaptia beyonceae) in 2011.Lessard says that using pop culture references can help raise awareness around insect species, which are so crucial to the ecosystem.
He told The Guardian that wildfires and other disasters have often focused attention on cute and cuddly animals like koalas, but that insects are just as important.“There’s a new wave.