Around the world In 26 million years: Evolution Of Eurema species is as breathtaking as the butterflies
They flutter past us with the quiet confidence of global citizens, their lemon-hued wings whispering tales of journeys longer than human history. But these delicate grass-yellow butterflies often dismissed as common are anything but ordinary.An international team of biologists has pieced together the journey of ‘Eurema’ butterflies, revealing that these tropical fliers circled the globe in 26 million years. And they did it without air miles, sat-navs, or even a consistent body plan.
Key findings:
American Origins: Contrary to previous beliefs, Eurema butterflies originated in the Americas, not Asia or Africa, beginning their global spread 26 million years agoIsland Hopping: Islands served as crucial “evolutionary accelerators”, allowing the butterflies to diversify rapidly and spread across continentsGenetic Detective Work : DNA analysis of 66 species revealed multiple intercontinental migrations, with butterflies travelling to Asia, Africa, Australasia and back againHidden Diversity: The common butterfly Eurema hecabe turns out to be multiple “cryptic species” that look alike but are genetically distinctTaxonomy Overhaul: Research resolves centuries of confusion by unifying several genera under one name, Eurema, divided into just two subgeneraClimate Implications: Study provides insights into how species adapt through migration-particularly relevant as climate change forces populations to relocate
