Researchers have documented painted lady butterflies’ transoceanic migration of over 4200 km, linking Europe and South America through genetic and environmental evidence. This study highlights the significant ecological implications of such long-distance migrations, especially under changing global climatic conditions.
In October 2013, Gerard Talavera, a CSIC researcher at the Botanical Institute of Barcelona, identified several painted lady butterflies on the Atlantic beaches of French Guiana. These observations were completely unusual, as thisA sum of novel techniques solves the enigma “The painted lady butterflies reached South America from West Africa, flying at least 4200 km over the Atlantic. But their journey could have been even longer, starting in Europe and passing through three continents, implying a migration of 7000 km or more. This is an extraordinary feat for such a small insect,” explains Clément Bataille, a professor at the University of Ottawa in Canada and co-author of the study.
The researchers highlight the importance of the Saharan air layer as a potential aerial highway for dispersion. These wind currents, which are prevalent throughout the year, transport large amounts of Saharan dust from Africa to America and participate in important biogeochemical cycles. However, the biological components transported, including living organisms, should be studied in depth.