PAINTED LADY BUTTERFLY -
ENVIRONMENT
News: A trans-oceanic flight of over
4,200 km by painted lady butterflies
What's in the news?
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Scientists discovered that butterflies made a
2,600-mile journey across the Atlantic Ocean.
Key takeaways:
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Gerard Talavera spotted painted lady butterflies in
French Guiana in 2013, which was
unusual since they are not typically found in South America.
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After a decade of investigation, it was concluded
that these butterflies undertook the first
recorded transoceanic flight by an insect.
Scientific Investigation
and Evidence:
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Researchers sequenced the butterflies’ genomes and
found they were closely related to populations in Europe and Africa.
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Pollen DNA on the butterflies indicated origins from
tropical Africa.
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Isotopes of hydrogen and strontium on their wings were
unique to Western Europe.
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This evidence suggested the butterflies originated
in Africa or Europe, not North America.
Details of the Migration
Journey:
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The painted lady butterflies likely flew from West Africa to South America,
a distance of at least 4,200 km.
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The journey might have been even longer,
potentially starting in Europe, totalling up to 7,000 km.
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Painted lady butterflies are known for long
migrations, such as the 9,000-mile trip between Europe and Africa.
Mechanism of
Long-Distance Flight:
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To reach French Guiana, butterflies would need to fly up to eight days without rest.
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Scientists analyzed wind currents from the Sahara, which could help butterflies glide
and conserve energy.
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Alternating between minimal effort gliding and
active flight was crucial for the journey.
Implications and
Perspectives:
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This discovery reveals insects’ ability to traverse vast distances, potentially impacting
ecosystems more than previously thought.
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It suggests that long-distance insect migrations
may be more common and significant than currently understood.
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui):
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Vanessa cardui is the most widespread of all butterfly species.
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It is commonly called the painted lady, or formerly
in North America - the cosmopolitan.
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Found on every
continent except Antarctica and South America.
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Adult butterflies feed on flower nectar and aphid honeydew.