Fly is abuzz about Beyonce

A NEWLY discovered horse fly in Australia is so “bootylicious”, there is only one name worthy of its beauty: Beyonce.

Previously published results from Bryan Lessard, a 24-year-old researcher at Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, were recently announced on the species that had been sitting in a fly collection since it was captured in 1981 — the same year diva Beyonce was born.

He says he wanted to pay respect to the insect’s beauty — and its golden-haired bum— by naming it Scaptia (Plinthina) beyonceae.

Lessard said Beyonce would be “in the nature history books forever” and that the fly now bearing her name is “pretty bootylicious”.

Bootylicious is the title of a 2001 song by Beyonce’s previous group, Destiny’s Child.

Lessard says he hasn’t heard from Beyonce, but he is a fan and hopes she will take his scientific gesture as a compliment.

He also hopes the name will draw attention to the importance of his field and the need for more researchers to catalog and study insects.

Horse flies are “vital pollinators of native plants, not just in Australia, but all over the world,” he said.