A trans-oceanic flight of over 4,200 km by painted lady butterflies - Nature Communications
A trans-oceanic flight of over 4,200 km by painted lady butterflies - Nature Communications
The extent and impact of global insect movements is hindered by tracking limitations. This study reveals a 4,200 km transatlantic journey by butterflies from West Africa to South America, lasting 5-8 days, highlighting the remarkable capacity of certain insects to disperse over vast distances.
This is just incredible. How does a tiny creature like that store enough energy to make that flight. They can't stop and feed.
Nature is awesome and very humbling at times.
"The overall journey, which was energetically feasible only if assisted by winds"
yeah you're right
They make that journey not knowing the wind will help them. Even so, all that time without feeding.
Yeah it’s completely fucking nuts - hard to believe it’s a real thing that actually happens I thought butterflies were optimised for flying in a deliberately squiggly way to avoid becoming lunch as far as possible 🫨