When you think of butterflies, you probably imagine unmistakable insects with bright, bold wings. But it turns out that it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between individual butterfly species. Museum Collections and Genetic Analysis – The Biological Dream Team.
“Thanks to the genetic revolution and the collaboration of researchers and museums in various countries led by the Natural History Museum in London, century-old butterflies are now speaking to us.” Christophe VinelAntilles Guyane, entomologist at Société entomologique. He said in a statement. “By comparing modern DNA with ancient DNA from historical samples, we can resolve confusing, long-unnoticed species and discover greater biodiversity than previously known.”
An international team of scientists at Amistad, a new research project led by the Natural History Museum in London, is sorting through members of a population of South American blue butterflies. Using more than 1,000 specimens from collections around the world, they discovered nine butterfly species previously unrecognized in the world. there sex. This genus of delicate-winged butterflies is found in the Neotropics. The teams have given priority to there The species is at risk because the tropical forests of South America are being rapidly deforested.
The team too Extracting genetic material from the leg of a butterfly that is more than 100 years old Using advanced DNA sequencing technology. Using this material, they were able to study small physical differences between butterflies that were so visually similar that entomologists thought they were the same species. Genetic testing confirmed the differences hidden under their noses.
The team looked specifically at a group of neotropical butterflies called A group of gene types within the subfamily Theclinaewhich was thought to consist of only five species. The findings of Feinel and colleagues were recently published in Zotaxahighlighting new information about our fellow terrestrial creatures, helping us understand different relationships between species and targeting conservation efforts toward endangered species.
“Some newly identified species were collected a century ago in habitats that may no longer exist, putting the existence of these species at risk and highlighting the urgency of this work,” he said. Blanca Huertaschief curator of butterflies at the Natural History Museum and co-author of the study.
Newly named species include Therios cocoa, T. Ramireseand T. was confusedwith researchers drawing inspiration from the regions, local scientists, and the taxonomic complexes they have overcome, among other things.
Ultimately, the study is also a testament to the enduring scientific value of the collections. The Natural History Museum hosts “five million butterfly specimens, making up about 6% of the entire collection,” Blanca concluded. “With some of these specimens dating back to the 17th century, the museum’s collections are an irreplaceable archive of life on our planet, allowing scientists and researchers to study species that may no longer exist, or are known to be endangered.”
PopSci’s 2025 Outdoor Gift Guide