Do phylum names need to be italicized?

Yes, phylum names, like all taxonomic ranks above the species level, should be italicized.

For example:

* _Chordata_ (the phylum that includes vertebrates)

* _Arthropoda_ (the phylum that includes insects, crustaceans, and arachnids)

It's important to note that while the name of the phylum should be italicized, the word "phylum" itself is not italicized.