A Record-Breaking 2600 Miles – First Recorded Atlantic Crossing by Butterflies
Scientists at CSIC have documented a 4200 km oceanic flight from West Africa to French Guiana in South America. An international team of researchers, led…
Butterflies News
Butterflies are colorful, flying insects belonging to the order Lepidoptera, which they share with moths. Known for their striking wing patterns and colors, butterflies are found worldwide, occupying diverse habitats ranging from tropical rainforests to temperate regions. They undergo a remarkable transformation in a life cycle that includes four stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult. This process, known as metamorphosis, involves significant changes in form and function. Butterflies play essential ecological roles, particularly in pollination, as they feed on nectar from flowers, inadvertently transferring pollen. Their presence and population levels are also indicators of environmental health and ecological balance. The study of butterflies, known as lepidopterology, provides insights into biodiversity, species interdependence, and the health of ecosystems.
Breaking Barriers in Biology: Universal Equation Links Wingbeats of Whales to Mosquitoes
Researchers from Roskilde University in Denmark have developed a universal equation that can effectively predict the frequency of wingbeats and fin strokes made by birds,…
Vanishing Pollinators: Unraveling the Decline of Bees and Butterflies
Bee and butterfly populations are declining in North America due to environmental changes. A study highlights regional trends and calls for improved monitoring and conservation…
Seeing the Unseen: How Butterflies Can Help Scientists Detect Cancer
Our planet is home to numerous species whose sensory abilities surpass those of humans. Turtles possess the capacity to detect the magnetic field of the…
New Research Reveals That Butterflies and Moths Share Ancient “Blocks” of DNA
New research indicates that butterflies and moths share “blocks” of DNA dating back more than 200 million years. Researchers from the Universities of Exeter (UK),…
Three Out of Four Populations of Rare Butterflies Have Been Lost
In a span of 26 years, Eastern Denmark has witnessed a 72% decline in the presence of rare butterflies. Numerous species are now on the…
Monarch Butterfly Migration: The Secret Power of White Spots
Monarch butterflies with larger white spots fly more efficiently, making long trips easier. A new study examined nearly 400 wild monarch wings and discovered that…
The Origin of Butterflies: A 100 Million-Year-Old Mystery Unraveled
Roughly 100 million years ago, a pioneering group of moths began to venture out during the day instead of night, seizing the opportunity presented by…
The Dark Cost of Being Toxic
The sequestration of plant toxins by monarch butterflies results in decreased visibility of warning signals. Aposematism in animals: the more toxic, the more striking the…
The Ultimate Death Stare: How Moth Wing Patterns Allow Them To Escape Death
Dr. Hannah Rowland and Dr. John Skelhorn explain how these defensive patterns on moth wings persuade birds that assaulting the insects is not worth the risk….
Gene-Edited Butterfly Mutants Reveal Secrets of Ancient “Junk” DNA
According to new research, butterfly wing patterns have a basic plan to them, which is manipulated by non-coding regulatory DNA to create the diversity of…
Butterfly Eyespots Reuse Gene Network That Patterns Antennae, Legs and Wings
Findings highlight that novel complex traits, such as eyespots, evolve from gene networks that already pattern pre-existent complex traits in the body. Eyespots, the circular…
Will an Imperiled Butterfly Survive Climate Change? It Depends on Shifting Rainfall Patterns
When we think of climate change, we often imagine how a warmer world will impact species, but a new study highlights the importance of changes…
Peeking Into a Chrysalis, Incredible Videos Capture Butterfly Wings Forming During Metamorphosis
The findings could inform the design of new materials such as iridescent windows or waterproof textiles. If you brush against the wings of a butterfly,…
First US Case of Human-Led Insect Extinction Confirmed by DNA From 93-Year-Old Butterfly
The Xerces blue butterfly was last seen flapping its iridescent periwinkle wings in San Francisco in the early 1940s. It’s generally accepted to be extinct,…
Researchers Investigate Newly Introduced Butterfly That Could Become Widespread in Canada
This summer, if you see a butterfly with wings that are blue on top with orange spots underneath, you may have crossed paths with a…
Butterflies Cross the Vast Sahara Desert in Longest-Known Insect Migration
Weather conditions shown to have big influence on migration numbers. A species of butterfly found in Sub-Saharan Africa is able to migrate thousands of miles…
Scientists See the Invisible: How Butterflies Make Transparent Wings
Many animals have evolved camouflage tactics for self-defense, but some butterflies and moths have taken it even further: They’ve developed transparent wings, making them almost…