Large-scale study involving samples from 90 countries reveals that butterflies originated approximately 100 million years ago in what is now the Americas

The research, conducted over seven years and involving over 80 scientists worldwide, aims to contribute to our understanding of butterfly phylogeny. It determined the initial flight paths of butterflies and identified their first host plants. The study revealed that butterflies originated approximately 100 million years ago, with all but one family present before the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event. Based on aggregated datasets and global distribution records, it is likely that butterflies initially fed on the pea family and originated in what is now the Americas. Following the Cretaceous Thermal Maximum, butterflies migrated across Beringia and diversified in the Paleotropics.

Another significant contribution of this research is the importance of the Philippines in studying the dispersal, colonization and evolution of butterflies. This research will create more opportunities for research in the Philippines in understanding the evolution of other taxa in the country and interrogate how other insects of economic importance arrived in the Philippines as well as their potential as pests. Studies such as this can enrich class discussions and inspire students to do similar work in the future.

Authors: Jade Aster T. Badon (Animal Biology Division, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Banos) et al.

Read the full paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-023-02041-9