Side view of Orectochilus orbisonorum. The image was created by taking a microscopic photo, running it through software to sharpen the picture, and editing in Photoshop. CJ Kazilek image. View larger, more detailed version.

A tiny beetle is getting big attention at ASU these days. The insect, a newly discovered species of whirligig beetle from India, has been named Orectochilus orbisonorum in honor of the late rock and roll legend Roy Orbison and his widow, Barbara.

ASU entomologist Quentin Wheeler announced the beetle's discovery and new name on January 25 at a Roy Orbison Tribute Concert hosted by ASU's Center for Film, Media and Popular Culture and the Tempe Center for the Arts.

To mark the occasion, an original work of art titled "Whirligig" was presented to Barbara Orbison during the event. The piece was created by CJ Kazilek, director of technology integration and outreach for the School of Life Sciences.

"Whirligig" by CJ Kazilek. Photo illustration using pigmented inkjet on watercolor paper.

Wheeler described the piece as "Warhol meets Carl Linnaeus," referring to the founding father of taxonomy, the system for classifying living things.

Wheeler co-authored the research behind the discovery of the new species with two other scientists: Kelly Miller of the University of New Mexico and Paolo Mazzoldi of Brescia, Italy. A scientific paper describing the new species was accepted for publication in Zootaxa, an international journal for animal taxonomists.