Melanie Brien @melbrien.bsky.social · 08/06/2026Is wing colour polymorphism maintained by other linked traits within a supergene? It doesn't seem like it - traits are mostly controlled by independent loci. Hindwing melanisation was linked to morph colour in males though, and in females, red colour was phenotypically related to pheromone amount. 170
Melanie Brien @melbrien.bsky.social · 08/06/2026A few summers ago, we individually reared 1200 wood tiger moth caterpillars with the aim to understand the associations and genetic basis of different traits; colour, chemical defences, behaviour, pheromones and more. The results are here! 14314
Melanie Brien @melbrien.bsky.social · 20/05/2026Happy to report a successful trip for the scarlet tiger moth team 🐛🐛 040
Melanie Brien @melbrien.bsky.social · 09/05/2026The groups first field trip is underway! @paulinea73.bsky.social got the first caterpillar of her PhD 🥳 @michalbartak.bsky.social 1111
Melanie Brien @melbrien.bsky.social · 09/03/2026Awesome paper! I was inspired to dig out this photo I took in Ecuador >10 years ago, I had no idea they were so rare! 100
Melanie Brien @melbrien.bsky.social · 24/09/2025Funded PhD position available 🎉 Come and work with me in Helsinki to uncover the pathways producing colourful tiger moth wings. Lots of options for genomics, CRISPR, fieldwork, behaviour experiments… Email with questions! jobs.helsinki.fi/job/Helsinki... 36749
Melanie Brien @melbrien.bsky.social · 18/08/2025For circadian clocks, colour polymorphisms and nice moths: 11am Weds in room 117 #ESEB2025 082
Melanie Brien @melbrien.bsky.social · 07/01/2025Lovely to be back in Sheffield for the Population Genetics group conference. First day full of colour, butterflies and tea #pgg58 080
Melanie Brien @melbrien.bsky.social · 01/10/2024Very happy to be at my first ISBE and my first visit to Australia! Will be around tonight with my poster (that printed the wrong colour 🙈) #ISBE2024 030
Melanie Brien @melbrien.bsky.social · 05/12/2023For my first post I'll share our recent paper (& accompanying doodle) on the genetics of polymorphic colour in male wood tiger moths 🦋🧬✂️ elifesciences.org/articles/80116 1120