Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy

This study identifies a long non-coding RNA, ivory, at the cortex locus that controls adaptive colouration in butterflies by modulating pigmentation patterns through CRISPR mutagenesis.

The paper tests palatability, flight speed, and habitat preference in Eudaminae skipper butterflies to understand their defensive strategies.

This study compares flight behaviors and wing morphology between seasonal forms of two Pieris butterfly species, finding that seasonal differences in flight traits are more pronounced than interspecific differences.

This study constructs a comprehensive phylogeny of Automeris moths and related genera using DNA data, revealing paraphyly and divergence times.

The paper uses DNA barcoding to show that butterfly genetic lineage distribution in Central Europe is linked to species traits like habitat and life history.

This study identifies transposable element insertions at the M locus in Hypolimnas misippus that drive adaptive atavism for Batesian mimicry of Danaus chrysippus.

This study quantifies spectral variation in wing color patches of swallowtail butterflies and identifies the pigment papiliochrome-II as the basis of sexual ornaments.

The paper measures visual acuity in Heliconius butterflies using behavioural and morphological methods, finding higher acuity in males and implications for predator-prey interactions.

This study uses target capture and mtDNA sequencing to resolve the phylogenetic relationships and taxonomy of two parapatric Saturnia moth species, revealing mitonuclear discordance and past introgression.

This study annotates opsin genes in 219 Lepidoptera genomes, identifies 44 duplication events, and finds conserved expression of a long-wavelength sensitive retrogene in Noctuoidea.

The paper introduces TaxonomR, an interactive tool to evaluate taxonomic classifications by quantifying and comparing criteria weights, demonstrating its use with butterfly data.

The paper estimates species phylogeny and introgression events in Heliconius butterflies using whole-genome data and the full-likelihood MSC approach, revealing new evolutionary histories and gene flow patterns.

This study investigates the developmental role of aristaless1 in butterfly wing coloration, finding it regulates pigment synthesis and expression through Wnt signaling.

The paper identifies the functional unit of a supergene in Papilio polytes, showing that multiple genes within and outside an inversion region control mimicry traits.

The paper tests for strain-specific mating behaviors in fall armyworm in Africa and finds evidence that the R-strain is rare or absent, suggesting limited crop risk from this strain.

This study identifies apterous A as a key regulator of surface-specific wing pattern differentiation in butterflies, showing its dual role in repressing ventral patterns and promoting dorsal sexual ornaments.