Metrichia trebeki is named after Jeopardy!
host Alex Trebek.
Retired Clarion University Biology Professor Dr. Steven Harris, and his research partner, Dr. Brian Armitage, have named a new species of insect for Alex Trebek of Jeopardy! fame.
Naming the insect Metrichia trebeki after Alex Trebek happened before Trebek announced his cancer diagnosis this year. The scientists were just fans of trivia and the long-running gameshow.
"We take great pleasure in naming this species for Alex Trebek, the longtime host of the television show Jeopardy!, which the authors have enjoyed for many years," the authors said in their paper outlining the news species they've recently identified.
Their paper, "The Trichoptera of Panama X. The Quebrada Rambala drainage, with description of 19 new species of microcaddisflies (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae)," describes the new species of microcaddisfly. Their paper was published in Insecta Mundi, volume 0707.
"The immatures live in the water and their only claim to fame is that fish like to eat them and they are indicators of clean water," Harris said.
Harris and Armitage believe this is the only insect named after Trebek.