Hahahaha.
Taken from The Austin Chronicle:
"In April, two former Cornell University entomologists, in what they said was a show of respect, anmed three new species of beetles that feed on slime mold after President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld. "We admire these leaders to do the very difficult and unpopluar work of living up to principles of freedom and democracy..."
The Agaithidium bushi are found in Ohio, Virginia and North Carolina, while the cheneyi and rumsfeldi are native the Mexico."
WooT! Hooray for slime eating insectile presidents.
I'm pretty sure its not a joke in the sense that the article is fictional. Although the scientist could think its funny rendering it a joke of sorts but hey, they are entomologists or whatever.