Adult neurogenesis does not explain the extensive post-eclosion growth of Heliconius mushroom bodies [PDF]
Royal Society Open Science, 2023 Among butterflies, Heliconius have a unique behavioural profile, being the sole genus to actively feed on pollen. Heliconius learn the location of pollen resources, and have enhanced visual memories and expanded mushroom bodies, an insect learning and ...
Amaia Alcalde Anton +6 more
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Evolution of increased longevity and slowed ageing in a genus of tropical butterfly [PDF]
Nature CommunicationsEvolution has given rise to lifespans in extant species ranging from days to centuries. Given that mechanisms of ageing are highly conserved, studying long-lived lineages across the animal kingdom could yield insights relevant for healthy ageing in ...
Jessica Foley +9 more
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Heliconius butterflies use wide-field landscape features, but not individual local landmarks, during spatial learning [PDF]
Royal Society Open ScienceSpatial learning is vital in foraging ecology. Many hymenopteran insects are adept spatial foragers that rely on visual cues contained within broader wide-field scenes for central place foraging from a central nest.
P. A. Moura +2 more
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Enhanced long-term memory and increased mushroom body plasticity in Heliconius butterflies [PDF]
iScienceSummary: Heliconius butterflies exhibit expanded mushroom bodies, a key brain region for learning and memory in insects, and a novel foraging strategy unique among Lepidoptera – traplining for pollen.
Fletcher J. Young +7 more
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Genetic parallelism underpins convergent mimicry coloration in Lepidoptera across 120 million years of evolution. [PDF]
PLoS BiologyConvergent evolution, the repeated evolution of similar phenotypes, is widespread in nature, but there are few studies investigating the genetic mechanisms of convergence across wide evolutionary timescales.
Yacine Ben Chehida +20 more
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Using motion‐detection cameras to monitor foraging behaviour of individual butterflies [PDF]
Ecology and EvolutionThe activity of many animals follows recurrent patterns and foraging is one of the most important processes in their daily activity. Determining movement in the search for resources and understanding temporal and spatial patterns in foraging has ...
Denise Dalbosco Dell’Aglio +2 more
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Genomic evidence reveals three W-autosome fusions in Heliconius butterflies. [PDF]
PLoS GeneticsSex chromosomes are evolutionarily labile in many animals and sometimes fuse with autosomes, creating so-called neo-sex chromosomes. Fusions between sex chromosomes and autosomes have been proposed to reduce sexual conflict and to promote adaptation and ...
Nicol Rueda-M +11 more
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Is beauty beyond the eye of the butterfly? [PDF]
PLoS BiologyThe bright colors observed across the animal world are often used during mate choice. An exciting new study in PLOS Biology suggests genetic and neural mechanisms contributing to the evolution of visual mating decisions in Heliconius butterflies.
Richard M Merrill
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Cortex cis-regulatory switches establish scale colour identity and pattern diversity in Heliconius
eLife, 2021 In Heliconius butterflies, wing colour pattern diversity and scale types are controlled by a few genes of large effect that regulate colour pattern switches between morphs and species across a large mimetic radiation. One of these genes, cortex, has been
Luca Livraghi +21 more
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Ecology and Evolution, 2023 Animal vision is important for mediating multiple complex behaviors. In Heliconius butterflies, vision guides fundamental behaviors such as oviposition, foraging, and mate choice.
Jose Borrero +3 more
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