Scientists have announced the discovery of a new species of weevil they named Trigonopterus chewbacca! At only 3 mm in length, the tiny insect is a bit smaller than its tall, Empire-fighting namesake. But the scientists were so taken with the hairlike projections on its head and legs that they couldn’t resist naming it after the hairiest beast they knew: Chewbacca, Han Solo’s trusty companion from Star Wars. The weevil was found off the coast of Papua New Guinea along with 3 other new species of weevil from the same genus. I will wait patiently for them to find a new species of pillbug to name BB-8.

Want to learn more? Visit https://www.sciencenews.org/article/new-species-hairy-weevil-named-after-chewbacca?tgt=nr

May 12, 2016