New Species of Moth Earns a Cherokee Name

Unique moths recently discovered in the southern Appalachian Mountains have been named Cherokeea attakullakulla in honor of a famous Cherokee leader who lived during the 1700s.

The moth in question was discovered by J. Bolling Sullivan while surveying moth populations in North America. The moth, which looks slightly different than other moth populations in the Appalachian Mountains, was verified as a unique species following detailed genetic analysis.

The results of this survey, discovery, and analysis were published in the journal ZooKeys on Friday.

"It is sufficiently different from all other known species that we placed it in a new genus, created to honor the Cherokee Nation," Sullivan said in a statement. "The species name was selected to recognize an early leader of the Nation. It also seemed appropriate to name it after the Cherokee people because the Cherokee are such good stewards of the land, and there are not many of them left."

Attakullakulla - or "Little Carpenter" - was reportedly a long-lived chief of the Cherokee people from 1760 to 1775. Prior to obtaining that position, he had been one of six ambassadors to travel to London in 1730 to help facilitate greater understanding and trade between his people and the English. He is celebrated as a "Peace Chief," wearing white during his time as Supreme Chief of the Cherokee, which means his people saw no war under his charge, according to AAA Native Arts.

Despite being an ambassador to the English, most modern historical texts also claim that Attakullakulla fought alongside the Americans during the American Revolution.

The significance of this naming was not lost on Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker.

"It's unusual to find a new species of animal, even a moth, in today's world," Baker said. "As a tribe, the Cherokee people were always deeply connected to nature and the environment in our original homelands in the East and having a new species named in honor of the Cherokee Nation is something I don't think has ever happened before, but we are honored just the same."

A full analysis of the Cherokeea attakullakulla species was published in ZooKeys on June 27.