Atlanta

REM singer Michael Stipe helps name new species of ant

ATHENS, Ga. — A new species of ant found in the rainforest of Ecuador has some weirdly strong ties to Athens, Georgia.

The new species of ant is notable for its smooth and shining cuticles and large trap jaw mandibles. It’s name is

Its name is partially after Charles Ayers, an Athens artist frequently credited with creating the artistic scene in 1970s Athens, which gave rise to bands like REM and the B-52′s.

In fact, REM singer, Michael Stipe helped a Yale University research associate come up with the name to honor his friend.

They named the ant Strumigenys ayersthey.

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Stipe and Ayers became close friends. Ayers even wrote songs for R.E.M. So taken with Ayers was Stipe that he asked Ayers to dance to a musical piece he created. In the video, Jeremy’s Dance, Ayers moves with awkward purpose and a total lack of self-consciousness to Stipe’s synthesized beat. The video was shown at Moogfest, in 2016, soon after Ayers unexpected death following a seizure. He was 68.

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“His curiosity for every single person he ever met was the foundation of a fascinating and cross-cultural network of friends, acquaintances, and colleagues, often with Jeremy at the very center of several overlapping colonies,” Stipe told Yale University. “He created the salon, laid the trails; he was the connector, the queen ant if you will, the bringer-togetherer.”

Read more here.

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