Star Wars Fever Crosses Over Into the Insect World
The Star Wars movies have gained an incredible fan following since they first came out, with the number of followers increasing exponentially as time has gone on and the franchise continues to release more and more movies in the series. With the return of the three original stars, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher, in the most recent film, Star Wars fever has reached an all-time high. Its fandom has even made it’s way into the insect world.
I’ll admit that the giant, hairy Wookiee, Chewbacca, holds a special place in my heart. Who can possibly resist what is essentially a giant talking dog/bear? He’d be my first pick on the playground any day. It seems I’m not the only one with a soft spot for Chewie. Scientists recently discovered a new species of weevil in New Guinea, and decided to name it Trigonopterus Chewbacca in honor of the famous Star Wars character. The choice of names was prompted by the weevil’s dense scales on its legs and head, which reminded the scientists of Chewbacca’s fur. The flightless weevil lives in leaf litter in forest, and is black with hairy-looking antennae and legs.
Are you a Star Wars fan? What do you think of this new weevil being named after Han Solo’s furry sidekick?
