New praying mantis named after Ruth Bader Ginsburg
A new species of praying mantis has been named after Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History said the name of the Supreme Court Justice was chosen because of her "relentless fight for gender equality."
Many know Ginsburg, 83, for her support of same-sex marriage and women's rights.
Sydney Brannoch identified the new praying mantis, Ilomantis ginsburgae (ill-oh-mantis ginnz-BURG-ee), by studying female mantis’ genitalia. Typically, researchers study mantis’ male genitalia to categorize species. But Brannoch of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and Case Western Reserve University decided ladies needed a shot.
“As a feminist biologist, I often questioned why female specimens weren’t used to diagnose most species," Brannoch said. "This research establishes the validity of using female specimens in the classification of praying mantises. It is my hope that our work not only sets a precedent in taxonomy but also underscores the need for scientists to investigate and equally consider both sexes in other scientific investigations.”
Ginsburg's name came up not only because of the way the new praying mantis was identified, but also because of Ginsburg's jabot, a decorative neck accessory, which resembles the neck plate of the insect.
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