A Species Named After Greta Thunberg

Environmental & Science Education
STEM
Nature
Climate Change
Edward Hessler


Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has had a beetle species named to honor her. Nelloptodes gretae is a widely distributed member of the Ptillidae family (commonly known as featherwing beetles), a family that contains the smallest of all beetles.

In the press release Josh Davis writes:

Nelloptodes gretae is pale yellow and gold, and measures just 0.79 millimetres. With no eyes or wings, it is distinguishable by a small pit found between where the eyes should go.

'These beetles are so very small that my wife has described them as being like animated full stops,' says Michael. 'But actually many are a whole lot smaller than a full stop.

'I'd also like to stress that I've not named this species after Greta because it is small - it's just that this is the group that I work on.'

In fact, Michael has named several species of Ptiliidae after prominent people, including one for Sir David Attenborough, meaning that N. gretae is certainly in prestigious company.

As Greta herself famously said, 'Many people say that Sweden is just a small country and it doesn’t matter what we do.

'But I've learned you are never too small to make a difference.'