TOPICSButterfly

Butterfly

Heliconius Butterfly. Credit: Max Farnworth
Science

Butterfly brains show tweaks needed for cognitive innovation.

Ashwini Sakharkar

They demonstrate a remarkable ability to learn and remember spatial information about their food sources.

Augochloropsis metallica visiting Pycnanthemum muticum.
Science

The impact of the garden surroundings on visiting pollinators

PLOS

Providing flowers year-round, regardless of garden type, is crucial for attracting pollinators.

Depicted is a longwing butterfly resting on a Lantana flower. Its wing patterns have been modified through CRISPR gene editing, which removed a crucial RNA molecule, leading to a loss of melanic scales.
Science

An unexpected genetic mechanism influences butterfly wing evolution

Ashwini Sakharkar

Genomic dark matter solves butterfly evolutionary riddle.

Close-up of butterfly pollinating on flower
Biology

Butterflies build static electricity to attract pollen without touching it

Dr. Prajakta Banik

Butterflies and moths collect enough static electricity while flying to pull pollen from flowers across gaps of several millimeters or centimeters. This likely makes...

butterfly
Biology

The impact of insecticides on butterfly populations

PLOS

The shift to neonicotinoid-treated seeds was linked to 8 percent drop in butterfly species diversity.

Image showing Butterflies.
Biology

Butterflies and moths share a common ancestor

Dr. Prajakta Banik

Deep chromosomal conservation in butterflies and moths.

glasswing butterfly
Science

How butterflies develop transparent wings?

Pranjal Malewar

Seeing the Invisible.

Recent Stories

Romantic relationships: Certain types of playfulness are linked to more secure attachment styles

Psychology

eaSEL: A system to promote social-emotional learning and parent-child interaction

AI & Machine Learning

The hidden struggle: Microbial warfare within your gut

Biology

Mitochondria: A way to cut Diabetes

Biology

Dark matter dominating halos of supermassive black holes 13 billion light-years away

Space