Newly discovered moth named after Pope Leo. There is a reason behind it

Scientists have named a newly discovered moth species after Pope Leo XIV, highlighting biodiversity discoveries in Crete and making a call for the greater good.

In Short

• Pope Leo XIV honoured by naming a newly discovered moth after him
• Moth identified by distinct purple, orange-golden wings and genetic tests
• Discovery highlights ongoing species documentation even in Europe

The Vatican's Pope Leo XIV has been honoured in a rather unorthodox way. It has to do with a newly discovered species of moth.

A moth has been named after Pope Leo XIV by the scientists behind the discovery.

The moth species found in the mountains of Crete has been formally named Pyralis papaleonei, derived from "Papa Leone," the Italian for Pope Leo. The nomenclature is a gesture that is equal parts scientific milestone and environmental plea.

The discovery was made by researchers from the Tyrolean State Museum, the Finnish Museum of Natural History, and the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology, and was published in Nota Lepidopterologica in late April 2026.

A MOTH NAMED AFTER POPE

The so-called Pope Leo Moth has a wingspan of around two centimetres, placing it among the medium-sized representatives of its group. Its most distinctive features are its purple forewings with an orange-golden patch and white bands.

The new species is currently only known from the White Mountains or Lefka Ori, in the western part of Crete, where it appears to be an endemic treasure of the island.

It was spotted near artificial light sources and appears most active in June. Researchers confirmed it as a new species using both visual characteristics and genetic analysis, with molecular analyses revealing a divergence of around 6% from its closest relative, clearly indicating that it represents a distinct species.

The name also fits neatly into a long tradition.

Within the genus Pyralis, as early as 1775, naturalists described the first species of the group as Pyralis regalis (royal), inspired by its splendid colours.

This was followed by names such as Pyralis princeps and Pyralis cardinalis, also referring to the remarkable beauty of these moths.

A NAME THAT'S A MESSAGE

Behind the flattering nomenclature lies an ulterior motive.

For study leader Peter Huemer of the Tyrolean State Museum, naming the moth after the Pope is a deliberate appeal to the Catholic Church's moral authority on environmental issues.

"We are facing a global biodiversity crisis, yet only a fraction of the world's species has been scientifically documented. Effective conservation of biodiversity requires that species are first recognised, described, and named," Huemer said.

The numbers back up the need to seek support.

Around 700 new moth species are described each year, primarily in the tropics. However, fundamental research in Europe is far from complete. In the Alps alone, approximately 200 previously unknown species have been identified in recent decades.

The Pope Leo Moth, therefore, is more than just a newly discovered species. It's a reminder that even in well-mapped corners of the world, nature still holds surprises, and that protecting them begins with simply knowing they exist.

- Ends