New insect species to be named after Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg

A newly identified species of praying mantis is to be named Ilomantis ginsburgae in honour of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Scientists at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History announced the find on Wednesday after adopting a new method of praying mantis identification which uses close examination of the insect’s female genitalia. The decision to name the species after Justice Ginsburg is in tribute to the 83-year-old jurist’s ‘relentless fight for gender equality’, said a statement from the museum. The neck plate of the Ilomantis ginsburgae also bares resemblance to the decorative jabot often worn by Justice Ginsburg. As for Justice Ginsburg herself, she seemed quite pleased with the unusual tribute on Thursday, drawing parallels to Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis: ‘Gregor Samsa woke up one morning to find himself changed into a big black bug… Praying mantis, female too, is ever so much more attractive,’ she said.  

Sources: Wall Street Journal; BigLaw Business