Articles tagged with Lepidoptera
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A new study using Big Butterfly Count (BBC) data from citizen scientists shows that mass-participation science can provide additional assessments of biodiversity change. The results demonstrate the potential for citizen science to inform long-term monitoring of butterfly populations and complement standardised biodiversity monitoring.
Scientists discover cryptic species in Elymnias genus due to mimicry, not interbreeding. Multiple species on different islands evolved to resemble a single model species, confounding classification.
Researchers used CRISPR to study the WntA gene's role in butterfly wing patterns. The results showed how this gene has orchestrated the evolution of diverse wing patterns across multiple species. This discovery sheds light on biodiversity and could have implications for understanding human anatomy.
Researchers used CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing to study the optix gene's role in butterfly wing patterns. In four species, deleting optix resulted in black pigment replacing red and orange pigment, with changes in expression of genes involved in pigment production.
Researchers have reported a new type of quantum oscillation in graphene superlattices, observable at high temperature and on the mesoscale. This phenomenon sheds light on Hofstadter's butterfly and enables tuning of electronic materials properties.
Researchers knocked out a control gene in seven different butterfly species using CRISPR technology, showing that a single gene influences the diversity of wing patterns. The study reveals unexpected ways in which this gene affects wing pattern, providing insights into the evolutionary origins of biodiversity.
New research reveals that a significant portion of monarch butterflies perished in the March 2016 snowstorm in Mexico, contradicting initial estimates. The severe cold and strong winds led to an estimated 30-38 percent mortality rate, emphasizing the need for protecting the surrounding forest.
A new study reveals that western monarch butterfly populations have declined by more than 70% over the past 35 years, threatening their survival. Habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change are likely contributing factors to this decline.
Researchers identified pheromone receptors in a primitive moth species that also respond to plant volatiles, suggesting an evolutionary link between sex pheromones and plant odor detection.
A recent DNA study by international researchers found that the female sunburst cerulean-satyr and its male counterpart belong to the same species. The discovery corrects a classification error made in 1911 and sheds light on true species diversity of Neotropical butterflies.
Researchers found dosage compensation to be widespread in butterflies and moths, with consistent expression of Z-linked genes between sexes. However, gonads showed imbalance due to masculinization of the Z chromosome and loss of female-biased genes.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have made surprising discoveries about the properties of butterfly wings, shedding light on their structural origins. The study reveals that the whiteness on male butterflies' wings changes depending on the angle, and that this phenomenon is crucial for signaling and mating purposes.
A new study suggests that converting marginal cropland to monarch-friendly habitat is the most effective way to add milkweed and restore the eastern migratory monarch population. Planting milkweeds in protected areas, urban, and suburban locations may also be necessary to achieve a full population recovery.
Researchers found complex structures in male butterfly ejaculates and the adaptive responses in female reproductive tracts, shedding light on human infertility. The study's findings suggest that understanding these biochemical relationships could aid in unlocking mysteries of human reproduction.
Scientists at the University of York found that the 1976 drought was the most devastating event for butterflies and moths in 50 years. The study measured data against extreme weather events since 1968, revealing a significant impact on over 50 species. Researchers warn that global warming may exacerbate such events in the future.
Researchers employed high-resolution microscopy techniques to study the formation mechanism of butterfly wing scales. The green butterfly features separated photonic crystal domains that increase in size from base to tip, suggesting time-frozen growth stages.
Researchers found that Heliconius erato butterflies possess unique visual photoreceptors based on species sex, with females containing two types of ultraviolet opsin genes and males lacking one. This study sheds light on the evolution of eye structure in response to environmental pressures.
A study in Illinois found a link between glyphosate use and reduced monarch butterfly abundance, particularly during warmer springs. Wetter and cooler conditions also boosted summer monarch populations.
New research reveals a negative association between glyphosate application and local abundance of adult monarch butterflies in the Midwest. Habitat loss and climate change are also contributing factors to the species' decline.
Researchers have discovered a new butterfly species, Acentria's fritillary, in northern Israel, with a unique molecular signature different from other fritillary species. The species is likely to be endemic to the region, highlighting its evolutionary history and possible hybridization between two other species.
Researchers from the University of Guelph and collaborators identified four valid Calinaga species, which originated in southeast Tibet during the Eocene epoch. The study revealed that the genus diversified due to geological changes caused by the collision between Indian and Asian subcontinents.
A study by Matthew Lehnert reveals that butterflies and flies use capillary action to feed, which could inspire novel microfluidic devices for targeted drug delivery. The research also found a limiting pore size for feeding, benefiting insects and the ecosystem during droughts.
Researchers have received £850,000 funding from NIHR to further develop the PPH Butterfly, a device that can stop bleeding and diagnose its source during childbirth. The device has already shown promise in treating postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), which affects 40,000 British women annually.
A new study reviews decades of monarch research and finds that milkweed numbers have dropped by about 95% in cropland over the last 20 years, but natural areas show a smaller decline. The researchers suggest other factors such as habitat loss, disease, parasites, and climate change may also be contributing to the decline.
The museum's walls draw in six butterfly and eight moth families, representing 52 genera and 60 species. Bright colors play a crucial role in attracting insects, while also encouraging curious behavior.
A new species of satiny-white winged moth was discovered in the White Sands National Monument and named delindae in honor of Steve Mix's supportive mother Delinda Mix. The moth was identified by Eric H. Metzler after a decade of studying the local fauna.
Researchers analyzed over 1,000 samples to determine the origins of monarch butterflies born in North America. The study found that a larger proportion of monarchs were born outside the Midwestern US than previously thought.
Entomologists describe five new species and two newly recorded snout moth genera Lista in China, bringing total to ten species known from the country. The brightly colored wings of these moths have made them difficult to distinguish from one another, but this study sheds light on their taxonomy.
A study found that oil palm plantations act as barriers to butterflies crossing into the plantation from the rainforest. Small butterflies are more likely to cross due to their larval food sources growing in the plantation habitat.
A study found that butterfly mothers preferentially select leaves from vulnerable Cycas species over less damaged ones, resulting in a greater number of eggs being deposited. However, this skill was lost in populations experiencing novel host species over time.
Physicist Chris Greene and his team observed a butterfly Rydberg molecule, a weak pairing of two highly excitable atoms that was predicted to exist more than a decade ago. The discovery validates the theoretical approach and opens up new possibilities for molecular scale electronics or machines.
Researchers found that extreme heat during pupal life stages is detrimental to over half of UK species, while precipitation can be detrimental to up to a quarter. However, some life stages may benefit from climatic extremes, with warm summers causing positive population changes in over one-third of the UK species.
Researchers found that flowering ornamentals can provide critical biological services such as pollination and biological controls. The study identified 74 commercially available annual and perennial plant species that attracted a diverse population of pollinators and beneficial insects, including hoverflies, skippers, and native bees.
Researchers found that environmental factors like plant cover and floral density determine common urban butterfly species, while spatial properties influence rare species. Urban park design can encourage or discourage certain species, emphasizing the need for careful consideration of surrounding landscape and disturbance features.
Researchers created a computer defense system that senses possible malicious probes and redirects them to a virtual decoy network. This shadow network is isolated and can mimic the structure of an actual network to fool hackers.
A study by Tsuyoshi Takeuchi found that aerial displays in butterflies are not due to a war of attrition between males, but rather an inability to distinguish the sex of their opponents, leading to prolonged courtship behavior.
A NUS study found that tropical butterflies are more likely to be flower specialists, preferring native plants and having shorter proboscis. Urbanization threatens these specialized species by reducing native plant availability, necessitating conservation intervention measures.
Scientists found that butterflies have an innate preference for specific leaf shapes and can learn to overcome this preference through experience. This learning ability promotes the evolution of plant biodiversity by favoring rare leaf shapes.
Researchers discover northern oak hairstreaks consume non-nectar sources like galls and aphid honeydew. This finding suggests the species may be more common than thought.
By editing just one or two genes, Cornell University researchers have altered the patterns on a butterfly's wings, shedding light on their evolution and potential applications. The study found that the distal-less gene plays a crucial role in shaping multiple body parts, including eyespots.
Scientists used X-rays to discover the microscopic structures on butterfly wings reflect light, creating brilliant colors. Researchers found photonic crystals with tiny crystal irregularities that enhance light-scattering properties.
Researchers from Michigan State University create a new model to estimate summer monarch abundance in Ohio and Illinois through their migration through Texas. Higher populations are associated with average to above-average precipitation and cooler temperatures in Texas during spring.
A genetic gene known as cortex enables butterflies to mimic each other's bright patterns, while causing British moths to turn black amidst pollution. Researchers found the same gene responsible for color evolution in both butterflies and moths.
Researchers have located a gene called cortex that influences the brilliant patterning of <i>Heliconius</i> butterfly wings and is also associated with the evolution of 'sooty' wings in peppered moths. The discovery provides insights into the mechanisms behind wing pattern variation and diversity in butterflies and moths.
Researchers found orange peel jessamine and mexican hummingbird bush to be the most salt-tolerant, while eastern red columbine was the most salt-sensitive. The study expands planting options for landscapes using reclaimed or recycled water.
A new study reveals that a moth species, Paysandisia archon, exhibits behavior similar to butterflies, including using vision for partner-finding and not releasing pheromones. This convergence of traits is an evolutionary breakthrough in understanding sexual communication in Lepidoptera.
A new Cornell University study reveals that monarch butterflies' population decline is driven by a lack of autumnal nectar sources, weather, and habitat fragmentation. Despite initial population bounce-backs, the scientists found consistent declines at Mexico's overwintering sites, which are six times larger than two years ago.
Researchers developed a model to explain how monarch butterflies navigate during their 2,000-mile fall migration. The model suggests that the monarchs' brain receives information from both the sun's position and the time of day, and uses two neural mechanisms to decipher the correct direction.
Researchers created a mathematical model that reproduces the animals' internal calculations, revealing the existence of a 'separatrix angle' that changes throughout the day. The model predicts real-life behaviors in flight simulators and provides insights into monarch navigation.
A new grid-based design for butterfly monitoring has been shown to reduce habitat bias and cover previously underrepresented habitats, such as coniferous forests and wetlands. The study found that butterflies were abundant in these areas, highlighting the importance of systematic transects in improving data quality.
The Eastern migratory monarch population declined by 84 percent from 1996-1997 to 2014-2015. Increasing the average population size is crucial to providing a buffer against extinction. Reaching six hectares of occupied area in Mexico by 2020 could reduce the quasi-extinction risk over 20 years.
Researchers find Tanana Arctic butterfly, a possible new species of hybrid butterfly from Alaska's interior. The discovery suggests ancient hybridization between Arctic butterfly species.
A study of 200 years reveals a steady loss of butterfly species in nature conservation areas, which are largely ineffective in protecting them. The decline is attributed to high emissions of reactive nitrogen, promoting the growth of plants that outcompete larval host plants and alter nutrient composition.
Researchers found that Common Bluebottles have 15 photoreceptor classes, one for each wavelength of light, allowing them to distinguish millions of colors. This discovery reveals a unique system in butterfly vision, where four classes are used for routine color vision and eleven others detect specific stimuli.
A University of Washington study found that small-scale disturbances, like those from butterfly wings, do not significantly impact weather forecasts. However, even minor errors in large-scale observations can throw off a forecast, emphasizing the importance of precise measurements.
Researchers analysed genetic variation in extinct Glanville fritillary butterfly populations to understand metapopulation dynamics. The study shows that rapid environmental change can lead to species adaptation through natural selection on dispersal.
Researchers discovered that sea snails use the same technique as flying insects to swim, beating their wings in a figure-of-eight pattern to generate lift. The team, led by David Murphy, used high-speed cameras and advanced analysis to visualize fluid movements around the animals.
Researchers have found an artificial diet that makes it easier to rear insects, including moths and other species. They successfully reared 39 different moth species on the McMorran diet, saving time, space, and money.
Scientists have discovered a butterfly-like fossil insect, Kalligrammatid lacewings, in the deep Mesozoic with striking similarities to modern butterflies. These ancient insects likely served as important pollinators during mid-Mesozoic times.
A study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society: B identifies a Jurassic-age insect whose behavior and appearance closely mimic those of butterflies. The discovery was made possible by the examination of well-preserved fossils from ancient lake deposits in China and Kazakhstan. Researchers found that these 'Jurassic butterfli...