Rainbow Fly Species Named After RuPaul.<br />Rainbow Fly Species Named After RuPaul.<br />On Sept. 15, Australian entomologists announced they have named a fly species after the iconic drag queen.<br />The soldier fly, <br />whose Latin name is <br />Opaluma rupaul, <br />boasts bold rainbow colors.<br />Bryan Lessard of Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) named the species.<br />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.<br />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.<br />And I really wanted to give this group of flies a memorable name because it needs the attention -- ... , Bryan Lessard, via statement.<br />... 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.<br />Opaluma rupaul isn't the first species to be named after a pop culture figure.<br />CSIRO has also named three rare beetles after Pokémon characters Articuno, Moltres and Zapdos.<br />CSIRO has also named three rare beetles after Pokémon characters Articuno, Moltres and Zapdos.<br />CSIRO has also named three rare beetles after Pokémon characters Articuno, Moltres and Zapdos.<br />CSIRO has also named three rare beetles after Pokémon characters Articuno, Moltres and Zapdos.<br />and 10 years ago, Lessard named the <br />Scaptia beyonceae fly after Beyoncé.<br />As a gay scientist, it took <br />me a long time to feel <br />comfortable in my own <br />skin in a very traditional <br />field of science -- in entomology, Bryan Lessard, via statement.<br />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
