People name things for all sorts of reasons, but usually some species of love or respect. The state of Virginia was named for for Elizabeth the first, the “Virgin Queen.” The Antarctic Mountain of Erebus was named after the ship of its discoverer, which in turn carried the name of the Greek primordial being who would father the personifications of sleep (Hypnos) and death (Thanatos) among other, lessor known works. Perhaps for similar reasons, M.L. Buffington felt it appropriate to name his recently discovered species of wasp after a fictional monstrous god.
Behold: Nanocthulhu lovecrafti !
While the face above might be one that only an entomologist could love, it carries a name that an etymologist cannot help to be enthralled by.
Apparently Buffington decided on the naming because: “H.P. Lovecraft’s weird fiction story The Call of Cthulhu (Lovecraft 1928). Cthulhu’s is described as having ‘a pulpy, tentacled head,’ and the clypeal fuscina described herein is reminiscent of Cthulhu’s head” or at least that’s what Simon van Noort wrote on his WaspWeb.org entry.
Personally, I don’t see it. Do you?