The Corner

Agathidium Bushi

Biologists have wide latitude in choosing names for species. I have already introduced NR readers to the flower species Kimilsongia and Kimjongilia (named for the Nork dictators pere et fil), and fans of Vladimir Nabokov will recall that the old conjuror got a butterfly named after him.

Now, thanks to two Republican coleopterists, there are species of beetle named Agathidium bushi, Agathidium cheneyi, and Agathidium rumsfeldi. (This according to The Economist, 2/11/06, p.11.)

I believe that only the second of these species is considered dangerous.

John Derbyshire — Mr. Derbyshire is a former contributing editor of National Review.
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