Sign in

Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab

@rogervilalab.bsky.social
695 followers 1K following 12 posts

Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-UPF) #Butterflies #Ants #Insects #Evolution #Biodiversity

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Mattia Menchetti @mattiamenchetti.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
In 2023 we reported Europe's first established fire ant population, in Sicily. Our new update: residents recall Solenopsis invicta since the 1990s, and it now also occurs in 3 more provinces, over 120 km away. We also list 78 ant species around the invaded areas. 🐜🔥 doi.org/10.21426/B6....
The timeline shows residents recalling fire ants in Sicily since 1990. The map of Sicily shows earlier records between Siracusa and Avola and new records up to Milazzo, over 120 km away. Photos show the invaded sites, including farmland and natural habitats.
0207
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Nicolas Mouquet @nmouquet.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
The prettier the butterflies 🦋, the more we study & protect them! With L. Dapporto & M. Portera, we found beauty bias drives public attention, research & conservation efforts; but not IUCN Red Lists, which flag real risk. @currentbiology.bsky.social 👉 doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2026.07.049 🌐🧪🌍🦤
Diagram titled "The beauty loop," showing two contrasting cycles radiating from two butterflies. Left side, from a colourful blue butterfly labeled "Beauty – showy, colourful species": a chain of plus signs leads to "Public attention," then down through "Bern Convention (1979)," "Habitats Directive (1992)," "European funding (LIFE)," "Conservation actions," and "Research effort," each link marked with a plus sign, illustrating how beautiful species get more attention, funding, and protection. Right side, from a plain brown butterfly labeled "Rarity – small range, often plain": dashed arrows marked with plus and minus signs connect to "IUCN Red Lists (2010, 2025)" and loop back negatively to "Public attention" and "Research effort," showing that rare, inconspicuous species are flagged as threatened but get less attention and study.
14312
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Mattia Menchetti @mattiamenchetti.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Biodiversity: millions of species, impossible to collect them all. So I made a video game where you try anyway. Over 180,000 species, growing every update. Guess where they live, explore Adventure mode, build your field guide. Free, no sign-up, installs like an app. #Biodiversity #IndieGame #MSCA
mattiamenchetti.com
RangeQuest: Guess. Learn. Collect.
Guess where real species live on the world map. RangeQuest is a free biodiversity game: learn the ranges of animals, plants, fungi and more from across the tree of life, build your Field Guide, and ex...
2105
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Ceci mp @cecimp.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
"A New Challenge to Species Delimitation: Remarkable Genomic and Ecological Diversity in the Butterfly Melitaea diamina" has been published! Read it here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... #PublishedArticle @WileyInResearch
195
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (IBE) @ibe-barcelona.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Threatened Clouded Apollo butterfly conceals two species distinguishable by scent🦋 📕A study led by @ibe-barcelona.bsky.social reveals that they hybridised during the last glacial period, leaving a genetic signature in today’s Pyrenean populations.🧵 👉https://shorturl.at/0s5Zl
Clouded Apollo butterfly. Credit: Vlad Dinca.
3198
Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab @rogervilalab.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Yes, Palaeophilotes (=Pseudophilotes) panoptes is present in SE France! Check Aurélien Gaunet’s recent study documenting the contact zone, genetic, morphological and ecological differences. doi.org/10.32800/abc... Published in ABC, a great journal by @museuciencies.cat @ibe-barcelona.bsky.social
Distribution of Palaeophilotes panoptes and P. baton in SE France. From
073
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (IBE) @ibe-barcelona.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
📣The @ibe-barcelona.bsky.social is hosting the 3rd edition of BiodIBErsity Day, an interdisciplinary event focused on the #biodiversity crisis and planetary well-being, featuring talks by leading international speakers. Save your spot✍️ shorturl.at/Gpoz7
011
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (IBE) @ibe-barcelona.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
#BiodIBErsityDay2026 🗣️"From invasion success to elytral color variation: pheno-genomic insights from the ladybird Harmonia axyridis". 🐞 by Arnaud Estoup, from @inrae-france.bsky.social 📅 22 May 2026 📍 CMIMA, Barcelona ⏳ Register before May 10th👉http://shorturl.at/4LXjw
011
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Mattia Menchetti @mattiamenchetti.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
The DNA barcode reference library for European ants is out! 🐜🧬 doi.org/10.1111/1755... Checklist of 650 species, ~78% covered 🧬, +6,500 COI 🧬, plus species genetic maps & trees, see Supp. Inf. "Atlas" tinyurl.com/antdnaeuatlas A framework for species discovery, biosurveillance, and phylogeography!
22513
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Valéria Marques @anguisvaleris.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Something big happened on March 27th: I defended my PhD and had so much fun doing it 🎓🎉
6332
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Project Psyche @projectpsyche.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
What if we could read the DNA of every butterfly and moth species in Europe? 🦋 That’s our goal: Sequencing ~11,000 Lepidoptera genomes to understand how they evolved, how they adapt, and how we can protect them🌎. Interview led by our hub @ibe-barcelona.bsky.social 🧬: www.lasexta.com/tecnologia-t...
lasexta.com
El proyecto Psyche sitúa las mariposas a la vanguardia de la genómica de la biodiversidad
Esta investigación secuenciará a escala cromosómica las 11.000 especies descritas de lepidópteros (mariposas y polillas) en Europa, revolucionando así la genómica de la biodiversidad. Ya se han secuen...
0126
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Insect Migration and Phylodiversity Lab @phylomigrationlab.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
New paper! A sharp genetic split across the African equator in migratory Belenois butterflies 🦋. B. aurota is restricted to the Northern Hemisphere, while B. syrinx is reinstated for the Southern African hemisphere. Both species are cryptic!
174
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
RES Publications @respublications.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
New #OpenAccess research in #RESSystematicEnt The evolutionary retreats of #Cyaniris semiargus — beach or mountain? Contrasting paths across #EcologicalGradients doi.org/10.1111/syen.70034 #ddRADseq #Lepidoptera #GeneticDiversity #Biodiversity #EcologicalSpeciation
166
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Molecular Ecology @molecology.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Out in MEC! New study led by @dariashipilina.bsky.social links resource limitation as a driver of migration in the painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui). The authors show how resource cues reshape gene expression across development. Read more: buff.ly/dogof9L 📷: Daria Shipilina 1/2
12113
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Valéria Marques @anguisvaleris.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Do you prefer the mountain 🏔️ or the beach 🏖️? The Mazarine blue chose both. Genomics uncover hidden diversity and lead to the description of two new subspecies from isolated montane and coastal populations in Iberia. New #butterfly #openaccess paper in #SystematicEntomology at doi.org/10.1111/syen...
22912
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Informationsdienst Wissenschaft - idw @idw-online.de · 04/02/2025
Globetrotting not in the genes | New findings about painted lady butterfly’s annual migration Painted lady butterflies are world travelers. The ones we encounter in Europe fly from Africa to Sweden, ultimately returning to areas north and sou... weiterlesen
Painted ladies are the most widespread butterflies, embarking on journeys spanning multiple generations.  - Copyright © Niclas Backström
032
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (IBE) @ibe-barcelona.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
Les papallones migren en direccions oposades segons l’hemisferi 🦋 📕Un equip internacional liderat per l’@ibb-botanic.bsky.social, amb participació de l’ @ibe-barcelona.bsky.social, documenta el primer cas de “divisió migratòria” en la papallona Vanessa cardui.🧬 👉https://shorturl.at/LVbhf
022
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Insect Migration and Phylodiversity Lab @phylomigrationlab.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
A migratory divide in insects! 🦋 Vanessa cardui butterflies migrate in opposite directions in the Northern and Southern hemispheres 🌍, a pattern driven by a chromosomal inversion 🧬 Paper @natcomms.nature.com doi.org/10.1038/s414... #butterflymigration #insectmigration #migratorydivide #evolution
1198
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (IBE) @ibe-barcelona.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
El projecte Psyche situa les papallones a l’avantguarda de la genòmica de la biodiversitat 🦋 📕L’ #IBE_Barcelona participa en el projecte Psyche, la primera iniciativa transnacional destinada a generar i estudiar genomes de referència d’un ordre animal complet.🧵 👉https://shorturl.at/9ofIE
L’equip d’investigació de l’IBE i col·laboradors recol·lectant papallones per al Projecte Psyche. Crèdit a Gerard Talavera.
1175
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Wellcome Sanger Institute @sangerinstitute.bsky.social · 28/11/2025
The DNA of butterflies & moths is supporting conservation, shedding light on evolution, and could find new ways to stop pests 🦋 1,000 genomes have been released, and @projectpsyche.bsky.social aims to continue until all 11,665 European species have been sequenced🧬 www.sanger.ac.uk/news_item/10...
sanger.ac.uk
1,000 butterfly and moth genomes to investigate evolution, climate change resilience, and tackle food security issues
These freely available genomes can be used to answer evolutionary questions, inform conservation and improve food security around the world.
1207
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Project Psyche @projectpsyche.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
(1/5)Thrilled to announce our paper on #ProjectPsyche is out! 🦋We describe how we’ve generated 1000+ high-quality genomes for European Lepidoptera, providing an unprecedented resource for biodiversity, conservation, and evolutionary research. #Genomics #Biodiversity www.cell.com/trends/ecolo...
cell.com
Project Psyche: reference genomes for all Lepidoptera in Europe
Project Psyche is a transnational initiative to generate and study chromosome-level reference genomes of all ~11 000 species of Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) found in Europe. Here, we describe t...
35824
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Niklas Wahlberg @lepphylo.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
One of the most exciting projects I have ever been involved in: Project Psyche! Read all about our ambitions and aims. It's ground breaking stuff, just mind blowing and even surreal (27 years ago we did single genes for lep phylogenetics)! @projectpsyche.bsky.social www.cell.com/trends/ecolo...
cell.com
Project Psyche: reference genomes for all Lepidoptera in Europe
Project Psyche is a transnational initiative to generate and study chromosome-level reference genomes of all ~11 000 species of Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) found in Europe. Here, we describe t...
04817
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (IBE) @ibe-barcelona.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
🐜 The red fire ant is now established in Europe and could reach the UK This insightful @cnn.com interactive draws on research led by #RogerVila in #Sicily, tracing the origins, expansion, and potential impact of this invasive species.🌍 👉https://shorturl.at/XM1Ft
021
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (IBE) @ibe-barcelona.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
📣 Mattia Menchetti’s PhD thesis at #IBE_Barcelona — “Exploring the genetic diversity of European ants and butterflies” 🐜🦋 — has received both the Extraordinary Doctoral Award from #UPFBarcelona and the III Premio Tesis Doctoral Relevante from @csic.es . 🏆 👉https://shorturl.at/hbOjE
081
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Niklas Wahlberg @lepphylo.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
Very cool paper from @rogervilalab.bsky.social on the Canary islands Hipparchia butterflies just came out! Each island has its own species, seems like no gene flow between the islands! academic.oup.com/isd/article/...
academic.oup.com
Colonization, diversification and speciation of the genus Hipparchia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in the Canary Islands
Abstract. The Canary Islands harbor numerous endemic species, showcasing a wide array of colonization and diversification patterns. Butterflies belonging t
14513
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Genome Biology and Evolution @genomebiolevol.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
Hospodářská, @petrnguyen.bsky.social et al. investigated genome size and karyotype in Polyommatus and Lysandra butterflies, rejecting polyploidy to confirm karyotypic diversification via chromosome fragmentation in Polyommatinae butterflies. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf157 #genome #evolution
GBE | Polyommatine Blue Butterflies Reveal Unexpected Integrity of the W Sex Chromosome Amid Extensive Chromosomal Fragmentation Linked to Telomere Restoration
02611
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Charlotte Wright @charlottewright.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
To celebrate the genomes for 1,000 (!) species of Lepidoptera in Europe, Project Psyche has released a preprint outlining our ambitions to jointly sequence & leverage genomes of all 11,000 species in Europe to propel science, conservation & society. This was a joy to write together as a community!
02913
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Project Psyche @projectpsyche.bsky.social · 13/09/2025
(1/6) 🦋 We are thrilled to announce the release of the 1,000th reference genome of Lepidoptera species found in Europe! This goal was reached with the release of Stenoptilia islandicus, also known as the mountain plume moth. Read the story below!👇🏽
Genome sequencing progress for Lepidoptera. 
Stacked bar charts represent the cumulative number of lepidopteran species with a reference genome per year. The colours represent the different levels of genome assembly quality, ranging from contig to chromosome-level. Numbers in brackets represent the range in numbers of species that have a given assembly level per year. Data derived from GoaT on 05.09.2025.
26725
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Charlotte Wright @charlottewright.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
How many chromosomes can an animal have? In our paper out now in @currentbiology.bsky.social we show that the Atlas blue butterfly has 229 chromosome pairs- the highest in diploid Metazoa! These arose by rapid autosome fragmentation while sex chromosomes stayed intact. www.cell.com/current-biol...
tinyurl.com
Constraints on chromosome evolution revealed by the 229 chromosome pairs of the Atlas blue butterfly
The genome of the Atlas blue butterfly contains ten times more chromosomes than most butterflies, and more than any other known diploid animal. Wright et al. show that this extraordinary karyotype is ...
421698
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Wellcome Sanger Institute @sangerinstitute.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
The Atlas blue butterfly evolved 229 chromosome pairs — the most of any animal — over 3 million years, enabling new research 🦋 www.sanger.ac.uk/news_item/the-tale… @rogervilalab.bsky.social @charlottewright.bsky.social @ibe-barcelona.bsky.social
The Atlas Blue Butterfly. Credit: Roger Vila / The Institute of Evolutionary Biology.
163
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (IBE) @ibe-barcelona.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
La historia del animal con más cromosomas 🧬🦋 📕 Un equipo del @sangerinstitute.bsky.social y del @ibe-barcelona.bsky.socialha confirmado genéticamente que la mariposa Niña del Atlas posee el mayor número de cromosomas de todos los animales multicelulares del mundo. 👉 shorturl.at/MQVOc
Blaveta de l'Atles. Crèdit a Roger Vila.
071
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
RES Publications @respublications.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
New #OpenAccess research by @rogervilalab.bsky.social in #RESSystematicEnt Genomic analysis of #Plebejus Kluk (#Lycaenidae: Polyommatinae) clarifies #taxonomy within Europe doi.org/10.1111/syen.70001 #Genomics #ddRAD @gkergoat.bsky.social @wiley.com Photos: Plebejus spp. (credit: Vlad Dincă)
Plebejus argus (credit: Vlad Dincă)Plebejus argyrognomon (credit: Vlad Dincă)Plebejus idas (credit: Vlad Dincă)
0145
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Petr Nguyen @petrnguyen.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
Another paper on polyommatine blue butterflies just published in @genomebiolevol.bsky.social. Blues have high chromosome numbers associated with increased diversification and their karyotypes reveal strategies to maintain genomic integrity amidst profound karyotypic changes doi.org/10.1093/gbe/...
44419
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Asociación ZERYNTHIA @asoczerynthia.bsky.social · 22/06/2025
Desde ZERYNTHIA, mediante un proyecto financiado con fondos europeos del MITECO identificamos una nueva subpoblación en Orce. Contamos con la colaboración del IBE - CSIC. 🎥 acortar.link/nBRrKw 📺 Fragmento del programa ConCiencia - Canal Sur 08/06/25. acortar.link/0kliQp @rogervilalab.bsky.social
032
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Asociación ZERYNTHIA @asoczerynthia.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
🦋 La #Mariposa Euchloe bazae, una joya de muestra fauna, protagonista en Canal Sur. En ZERYNTHIA llevamos años trabajando por la conservación de Euchloe bazae, la azufrada ibérica, una de las mariposas más amenazadas de Europa.
1137
Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab @rogervilalab.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
Being invited to the opening of the photo exhibition Constant Bloom in Fotomuseum Den Haag was a privilege. The author, Lucas Foglia, followed the migration of Vanessa cardui across 17 countries to show how this butterfly connects societies, an art project that won the 2024 Guggenheim Fellowship.
182
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
NPR @npr.org · 17/04/2025
Scientists have recently mapped the painted lady butterfly's annual flight from equatorial Africa to northern Europe and back, the world's longest butterfly migration. In Constant Bloom, photographer Lucas Foglia documents the journey.
npr.org
Photos: Scientists trace a butterfly migration route that is millions of years old
Scientists have recently mapped the painted lady butterfly's annual flight from equatorial Africa to northern Europe and back, the world's longest butterfly migration. In Constant Bloom, photographer ...
231665298
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Aleix Palahí i Torres (he/they) @aleixpalahi.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
1/6) New paper out in Molecular Ecology! We uncover the intriguing biogeographic history behind the Holarctic disjunct distributions in Vanessa butterflies. @phylomigrationlab.bsky.social #biogeography #insectmigration #butterflymigration #butterflies #evolution shorturl.at/UFrrU
13217
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (IBE) @ibe-barcelona.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
📣 AGCTually Annotating Genomes The #IBE Biodiversity Program launches the Workshop on Genome Annotation, bringing together researchers, technicians, and master’s & PhD students.🧬🧩 👉https://www.ibe.upf-csic.es/home/-/asset_publisher/T2caeLMECPvW/content/agctually-annotating-genomes/maximized
022
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Project Psyche @projectpsyche.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
Day 2 of the #ProjectPsyche Spring Meeting is complete! Participants made great progress with productive discussions on key tasks and role assignments. Stay tuned for what’s next! 🦋🧬
0215
Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab @rogervilalab.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
It’s not the head, it’s the butt! Meet a completely unknown organism: a blow fly (Calliphoridae) that evolved social integration in termite nests using a false termite head in the posterior part of the body. @CurrentBiology www.cell.com/current-biol...
524775
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Asociación ZERYNTHIA @asoczerynthia.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
🗞️ Gracias a José Pichel @elconfidencial.bsky.social por este estupendo reportaje dedicado al descubrimiento de una nueva población en Orce #Granada, de Euchloe bazae, una #mariposa de las más exclusivas de España y muy amenazada🦋 Artículo completo: www.elconfidencial.com/tecnologia/c...
094
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Asociación ZERYNTHIA @asoczerynthia.bsky.social · 09/01/2025
🦋 Investigadores de ZERYNTHIA hallan en Orce, #Granada, un "mundo perdido" de la azufrada ibérica, un "fósil viviente" tan amenazado como el lince ibérico. Artículo completo: www.researchgate.net/publication/...
researchgate.net
(PDF) Contributions to the distribution, biology, and conservation of Euchloe bazae Fabiano, 1993 (Lepidoptera: Pieridae): discovery of a new population and new host plant in the province of Granada (...
PDF | ABSTRACT: Euchloe bazae is an endemic butterfly of the Iberian Peninsula with a highly restricted and disjunct distribution, classified as... | Find, read and cite all the research you need on R...
1185
Reposted by Butterfly Diversity & Evolution Lab
Megan S. Reich @megansreich.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
Super stoked to share our latest research on the migratory patterns of painted lady butterflies across the Sahara! 🦋🏜️ www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
cell.com
Trans-Saharan migratory patterns in Vanessa cardui and evidence for a southward leapfrog migration
Chemistry; Nature conservation; Ecology; Entomology
310835