Painted lady butterflies (Vanessa cardui) were documented undertaking an incredible 4,200-kilometer (2,600-mile) transatlantic migration from Africa to South America, employing an energy-efficient flight strategy, alternating between active flight and gliding with favorable winds, including the Saharan air layer and trade winds.
Researchers used multidisciplinary tools, including genomic analysis, wind trajectory reconstruction, pollen metabarcoding, and isotope analysis, to track the butterflies' journey and found evidence of a transatlantic crossing from western Africa. Genetic analysis confirmed the close relatedness of African and European populations, and pollen grains indicated the butterflies nectared on African flowers before their journey.
Isotope analysis, habitat models, and chemical analysis of wings indicated a potential European origin, with France, Ireland, the UK, or Portugal as possible starting points, before migrating to West Africa and then undertaking the transatlantic flight to South America, utilizing Saharan winds and gliding to conserve energy.
The study highlighted unknown aerial corridors used in migration.
The researchers suggest global warming can increase the frequency of long-distance dispersal events.
Sources: Nature, ScienceDaily, Business Insider, New Atlas, Globe Echo, EurekAlert, Phys.org
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
