Scientists Find the first evidence that butterflies crossed an ocean
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Scientists have uncovered that painted lady butterflies (Vanessa cardui) can undertake an astonishing non-stop migration of over 2,600 miles across the Atlantic Ocean. This discovery, published in *Nature Communications*, resolves a long-standing mystery about the species’ migratory capabilities. The breakthrough came when Dr. Gerard Talavera, an entomologist and the study’s lead author, observed a small group of these butterflies on a beach in French Guiana in October 2013. The butterflies, appearing with worn-out wings full of holes and tears, were far from their usual habitats, as painted ladies are not typically found in South America. This sighting triggered a decade of investigation into how they arrived, ultimately revealing their ability to fly across the open ocean.
Painted lady butterflies are renowned for their long-distance migrations, which are usually conducted over land where they can stop to rest. However, Talavera and his team ruled out alternative explanations for the butterflies’ appearance in South America, concluding that these insects had accomplished the extraordinary feat of flying non-stop across the Atlantic. This finding sheds new light on the resilience and endurance of migratory butterflies, while also highlighting the complexities of insect navigation and survival during such demanding journeys. The discovery underscores the importance of further research into how environmental factors may affect such migrations in the future.
