Mitológia | Görög » Ron H. Cherry - Insect names derived from Greek and Roman Mythology

Source: http://www.doksinet Insect Names Derived from Greek and Roman MYTHOLOGY By Ron H. Cherry The atlas moth was named for its large size, corresponding 212 to Atlas, the Titan. AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGIST • Winter 1997 Downloaded from https://academic.oupcom/ae/article-abstract/43/4/212/2474560 by guest on 18 April 2019 The naming of plants and animals after mythological figures was practiced by early naturalists. This practice was prompted by the classical education in Greek and Roman mythology received by many early naturalists. However, the use of mythological names for biological organisms also has been criticized. Regardless of ones viewpoint on naming biological organisms after mythological figures, these names do occur frequently in the zoological sciences, including entomology Insect names derived from Greek and Roman mythology are discussed in this article. Source: http://www.doksinet M YTHOLOGY PERMEATES OUR LANGUAGE • figures, these names do occur

frequently in the zoological sciences including entomology. Examples of insects whose common names are based on Greek and Roman mythology are given in the table on page 214. The atlas moth; hercules beetle,1 Dynastes hercules (L.); and hercules moth were named after mythological figures of great size and strength. Atlas was one of the Titans who warred against the gods and was condemned to uphold the heavens on his shoulders. Due to an error by Rumold Mercator in 1595 when publishing a map collection, Atlas was depicted holding a globe (earth) rather than the sky on his shoulders; from Mercators mistake, the word Atlas has been used for map collections (Macrone 1992). And, of course, Hercules was the mighty Greek hero who sailed with Jason and the Argonauts (Hamilton 1942) and, ultimately, became worshipped as the god of physical strength. The wing eyespots of the polyphemus moth are the association of this insect to the one-eyed Cyclops. Polyphemus Prometheus, who stole fire from

the gods, is the origin of the naming of the promethea moth. See text for an explanation mythological connection. of the Not currently among common names of insects and related organisms approved for use by the ESA Committee on Common Names of Insects. AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGIST • Winter 1997 213 Downloaded from https://academic.oupcom/ae/article-abstract/43/4/212/2474560 by guest on 18 April 2019 .some terms such as Pandoras box, Achilles heel, and Midas touch are used so frequently that people are aware of the legends behind them. Others simply will sense that the terms are based on lore of which they are unaware. However, mythology insinuates itself into our language in more cryptic ways. Long before the Titanic sank into history, Titans ruled the universe. On a smaller scale, a chatty nymph named Echo was punished by Juno to repeat the words of others. Names of days and months also have mythological connections, ranging from those that are fairly direct, such as Thursday from

"Thors day" and March from Mars, to those with more arcane origins (Macrone 1992). It does not take a Herculean effort to find mythology in our everyday language. The practice of naming plants and animals based on mythological origins also was practiced by early naturalists. This practice was prompted by the classical education in Greek and Roman mythology received by many early naturalists (Yancey 1952). However, the use of mythological names for biological organisms also has been criticized. Schenk and McMasters (1956) opined that the chief virtue of mythological names in taxonomy was that they afford variety but lack descriptive value. In addition, Jaeger (1978) believed that mythological names were objectionable not only because they have been used so frequently in other classes that they are likely to be preoccupied but also because of ambiguity in application. For example, Atlas and Hercules may seem appropriate names when describing very large insects, such as the

atlas moth,1 Attacus atlas (L.)and hercules moth,1 Cosinocera hercules (Miskin) However, it is less clear why the insect genus Pieris was named for Pieris, a daughter of Zeus (Yancey 1952). And, of course, there is the chance that an organism with a mythological name may not have been named after a mythological figure. The alpine argus,1 Albulina orbitulus DePrunner, and brown argus,1 Aricia ages tis Denis & Schiffermuller, are butterflies in the family Lycaenidae (Carter 1992). Unless one knows for sure, it is impossible to determine if the Argus in the common name was named after the everwatchful, multi-eyed monster of mythology (Hamilton 1942) or after a friend, or simply because someone liked the sound of the name. Regardless of ones own viewpoint on naming biological organisms after mythological Source: http://www.doksinet Common names of insects derived from Greek and Roman mythology Common Name Amazon ants" Atlas moth" Hercules beetle" Hercules moth"

10 moth Large parnassian" Large wood nymph" Little wood satyr" Polyphemus moth Promethea moth Five species of Polygerus Attacus atlas (L.) Dynastes hercules (L.) Coscinocera hercules (Miskin) Automeris io (E) Parnassius phoebus E Cercyonis pegala (E) Megista cymela (Cramer) Antheraea polyphemus (Cramer) Callosamia promethea (Drury) Mason 1974 Yancey 1952 Yancey 1952 Carter 1992 Mitchell and Zim 1962 Jaeger 1978 Yancey 1952 Jaeger 1978 Mitchell and Zim 1962 Yancey 1952 Not currently among common names of insects and related organisms approved for use by the ESA Committee on Common Names of Insects. The name of the butterfly family Pieridae was derived from the genus Pieris. named after Pieris one of the muses. 214 Another group of insects with an interesting common name derived from mythology is the amazon ants, 1who were named after the fierce female warriors, the Amazons, of Greek mythology (Mason 1974). These ants, which are comprised of five species in the

genus Polygerus, are slave makers. Amazon ants are nowhere very common, but their striking appearance (large size, bright red or black coloration, and shiny body surface), the extraordinary degree of their behavioral specialization, and the spectacular qualities of their slave raids have placed them among the most frequently studied of all the ants (Holldobler and Wilson 1990). The workers are "femme fatales," possessing long, pointed mandibles for fighting. The analogy of these ants to the fierce female warriors of Greek mythology is apparent. These warlike women lived on the coast of the Black Sea where they formed a state from which men were excluded. To reproduce, Amazons ventured into nearby settlements where they used men to satisfy their sexual needs before heading home to await the results. Male babies were returned to the fathers or killed. Female babies were saved and raised in a strict regimen including burning off the right breast so it would not interfere with

the handling of a bow or javelin (Macrone 1992). With the exception of the breast mutilation, the comparison of Polygerus ants to Amazons is appropriate because both groups are femalebased societies sustained by ferocity and occasional raids. Two other insects whose common names have been derived from well known mythological figures are the polyphemus moth,Antheraea polyphemus (Cramer), and the promethea moth, Cal/osamia promethea (Drury). In the polyphemus moth, the large eyespots on the hind wings are the mythological connection (Mitchell and Zim 1962). Polyphemus was one of the Cyclops (giants with one large eye in the middle of their foreheads) who, occasionally, fed on human flesh. In Homers The Odyssey, Polyphemus eventually was blinded by the Greek hero Odysseus after Odysseus and his crew were taken prisoner by this one-eyed giant (Hamilton 1942). The best-known legend about Prometheus also contains a good dose of violence. Prometheus was the Titan who stole fire from the gods

and gave it to humans. He later was punished by Jupiter, who chained him to a mountain where an eagle preyed upon his liver which was renewed as fast as it was devoured. Fortunately, Prometheus finally was released by Hercules (Bulfinch 1991). The association of the myth with the promethea moth is not obvious. Because of his exploits, the name Prometheus over time became synonymous for independence and daring. The cocoon of the promethea moth is suspended rath- AMERICANENfOMOLOGIST • Winter 1997 Downloaded from https://academic.oupcom/ae/article-abstract/43/4/212/2474560 by guest on 18 April 2019 a Reference Species Source: http://www.doksinet family do produce a sound by tapping their abdomens on a substrate (Borror et al. 1992) However, it has been suggested that original "death watch" insects were not atropids but, rather, anobiid beetles that produce sounds in their galleries (Sharp 1895). Another example is that of the family Saturniidae, the name of which is

derived from the The name of the moth family Uraniidae was derived from the genus Urania, named after Urania, the muse of astronomy. The bright colors of some members of the family are the mythological connection to Urania (Yancey 1952). Family names of insects based on genera derived from Greek or Roman mythology Family Mythological figure Reference Atropidae Atropos was one of the three fates. She severs the thread of human life. Danaus was a mythical king of Arabia. Erycina was a name of Venus from her temple in Erycus, Sicily. Hesperides were the daughters of Atlas. The three sisters guarded trees with golden apples. Japyx was the mythical progenitor of the Japyges of southern Italy. Lares were household gods being deified ancestors or heroes. Nymphs were lesser divinities of nature represented as beautiful maidens. Pieris was a daughter of Zeus. Psyche was a beautiful girl with whom Cupid fell in love. She is represented with the wings of a butterfly and the name signifies

"soul" and "butterfly." Psyche as discussed in Psychidae. Python was a monstrous serpent who killed men and cattle and was killed by Apollo. The most important of the Titans, Saturn was the Roman equivalent of the Greek Cronus (time). The satyrs were immortal goatmen (part goat, part human) who lived in woodlands. Urania was the Muse of astronomy and celestial forces. Kellogg 1914 Danaidae Erycinidae Hesperidae Japygidae Lariidae Nymphalidae Pieridae Psychidae Psychodidae Pythidae Saturniidae Satyridae Uraniidae AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGIST • Winter 1997 Jaeger 1978 Jaeger 1978 Yancey 1952 Kellogg 1914 Jaeger 1978 Yancey 1952 Kellogg 1914 Yancey 1952 Yancey 1952 Yancey 1952 Swann and Papp 1972 Jaeger 1978 Yancey 1952 215 Downloaded from https://academic.oupcom/ae/article-abstract/43/4/212/2474560 by guest on 18 April 2019 er freely by silken thread. Hence, it is this developmental feature of the insect from which the moth has gained its elegant name (Yancey

1952). Insect genera also abound in Greek and Roman mythological derivations. An example is the naming of the genus Colias. Colias is a lesser known name for Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, and the name was given in reference to the beauty of the butterflies in the genus (Yancey 1952). Other examples areAtropos and Clothilla, named after the two fates Atropos and Clothos (Sharp 1895). Family names of insects also have been derived from genera named after Greek and Roman mythological figures (see table below). An interesting example concerns the psocopteran family Atropidae (= Trogiidae), the name of which is derived from Atropos. In mythology, Atropos was one of the three Fates who were goddesses who determined the course of human life; her role was to cut the thread of life (Bulfinch 1991). The genus Atropos was named after the mythological Atropos beca use it was thought that members of this genus made a tapping noise on wood at the death of humans (Sharp 1895).

Females of some species in this Source: http://www.doksinet heavens, Prometheus steals fire from the gods, and the Amazons wage war upon men. These are great and lasting tales whose characters have added life to entomology. References Cited Jaeger, E. C 1978 A source book of biological The io moth derives its common name from 10, who was a beautiful woman changed into a heifer by Jupiter. 216 genusSaturnia (Swan and Papp 1972). Saturn was a major, well known god of Roman mythology who, in an infamous act, devoured his children except Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto (Bulfinch 1992). However, what makes the family interesting from a mythological perspective is that it contains some of the best known examples of insects named after mythological figures. These insects include the atlas moth; hercules moth; io moth, Automeris io (F.);polyphemus moth; and promethea moth As a final note, Atlas and Prometheus were brothers in mythology. Prometheus consoles Princess 10 by telling her that

her race will one day yield a glorious hero. Ios descendant would be Hercules, one of the greatest mythological heroes, who ultimately freed Prometheus (Hamilton 1942). It seems poetic justice that through common names of insects, Atlas, Hercules, 10, and Prometheus have been rejoined again in the same family, the Saturniidae. The preceding examples show that the naming of insects after mythological figures has added much spice to our science. Alfalfa weevil, cat flea, and sugarcane borer certainly are functional names. However, they are mundane when compared to mythological names such as the amazon ants or polyphemus moth. Also, mythological names at times are appropriate in helping to describe an insect. Insects named after Atlas and Hercules are some of the worlds largest and most powerful and clearly correspond to the mythological figures from whom their names were derived. And, most important1y,insects that have been named after mythological figures connect entomology to some of

the worlds greatest legends. Atlas holds up the names and terms, 3rd ed. Charles Thomas, Springfield,lL. Kellogg, V.L1914 American insects, 3rd ed Henry Holt, New York Macrone, M. 1992 By Jove! Brush up your mythology Cader, New York Mason, Jr., H M 1974 The fantastic world of ants. David McKay, New York Mitchell, R. T, and H S Zim 1962 Butterflies and moths. Western, Racine, WI Schenk, E. T, and J H McMasters 1956 Procedure in taxonomy Stanford University Press, Stanford, CA. Sharp, D. 1895 Insects, pp 395-396 In Cambridge natural history, vol 5 MacMillan, New York. Swan, L. A, and C S Papp 1972 The common insects of North America. Harper & Row, New York. Yancey, P. H 1952 Origins from mythology of biological names and terms. BIOS Classroom Series No.5 Mt Vernon, IA • Ron Cherry works for the Institute of Food and Agricultural Science of the University of Florida. He is located at the Everglades Research and Education Center, P.O Box 8003, at Belle Glade, FL 33430. He

conducts research on insect pests of rice, sugarcane, and turf. He also is interested in cultural entomology and has published several articles on the subject. This paper is Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series Number R-05712. AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGIST • Winter 1997 Downloaded from https://academic.oupcom/ae/article-abstract/43/4/212/2474560 by guest on 18 April 2019 Borror, D. J, C A Triplehorn, and N FJohnson 1992. An introduction to the study of insects, 6th ed. Saunders College, New York Bulfinch, T. 1991 Bulfinchs mythology Harper Collins, New York. Carter, D. 1992 Butterflies and moths Dorling Kindersley, New York. Hamilton, E.1942 Mythology Little, Brown, Boston Holldobler, B., and E O Wilson 1990 The ants Belknap, Cambridge, MA