Trapdoor spider becomes Colbert’s namesake

Colbert’s namesake is Aptostichus (ap-TAS’-tih-kus) stephencolberti

Jason Decrow / AP file

A trapdoor spider species found along the coast of California last year is the new eight-legged tribute to Stephen Colbert.

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updated 7:18 p.m. ET July 31, 2008

GREENVILLE, N.C. - A trapdoor spider species found along the coast of California last year is the new eight-legged tribute to Stephen Colbert.

How will the faux conservative talk show host take this news? Viewers of the Comedy Central show “The Colbert Report” will find out Wednesday when East Carolina University biologist Jason Bond appears as a guest.

Bond specializes in spiders and millipedes. He and students study both new and known species and provide names for the new ones.

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Colbert’s namesake is Aptostichus (ap-TAS’-tih-kus) stephencolberti. Because Colbert doesn’t pronounce the “t” in his last name, it will also be silent in the spider’s name.

Colbert demanded that a spider species carry his name after learning that Bond named a spider for rocker Neil Young.