As a teacher I’ve given a few presentations about ants for kids. I tell them about scientific names and why they are useful. Every single time I say a scientific name they always ask “why is it called THAT?”

This is, in truth, my first question too. It’s not always easy to answer. In some cases these reasons are lost to time. Which is why I wish that they were a required and expected part of a type description, not just a “nice to know.”

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