100-Million-Year-Old Insect Takes Stray Kids-Inspired Name for Rare Claw-Like Legs
Updated
Updated · DOGOnews · May 21
100-Million-Year-Old Insect Takes Stray Kids-Inspired Name for Rare Claw-Like Legs
4 articles · Updated · DOGOnews · May 21
Carcinonepa libererrantes, a newly described true bug from about 100 million years ago, was named after K-pop group Stray Kids because its front claws resemble the band’s “Step Out” hand pose.
CT scans of the amber-preserved fossil from Myanmar’s Kachin region showed enlarged pincer-like forelegs—chelae that may have helped seize prey and are exceptionally rare in insects.
Researchers said the species is only the fourth known insect group with such claw-like structures, making it a striking case of convergent evolution with crustaceans such as crabs and lobsters.
The species name also reflects the tribute: Carcinonepa combines “crab” with Nepa, while libererrantes draws from Latin for “children” and “wandering”; the April 2026 study appeared in Insects.
How did a tiny prehistoric insect independently evolve the powerful pincer-claws of a crab 100 million years ago?
A K-pop tribute fossil: how is modern celebrity culture changing the ancient traditions of scientific naming?
The key fossil was bought online from a conflict zone. What are the hidden ethical costs of such discoveries?