The Surprising Origin of Butterflies: Not What We Thought!

🦋Butterflies originated around 100 million years ago in the mid Cretaceous before bats even existed.

🌺The evolution of butterflies was driven by their adaptation to the daytime nectar resources and attractive signals of flowering plants.

🐝Butterflies initially fed on bean plants and later diversified and co-evolved with other host plants.

🌍The first butterflies adapted to life in the sun in North or Central America and later spread to every corner of the planet through great migrations.

🔎Research using genetic data and species distribution information helped unravel the origin and dispersal of butterflies.

When did butterflies originate?

—Butterflies originated around 100 million years ago in the mid Cretaceous.

What drove the evolution of butterflies?

—The evolution of butterflies was driven by their adaptation to the daytime nectar resources and attractive signals of flowering plants.

What plants were the first butterflies associated with?

—The first butterflies were associated with bean plants before diversifying and co-evolving with other host plants.

Where did butterflies first adapt to life in the sun?

—Butterflies first adapted to life in the sun in North or Central America.

How did butterflies spread to different parts of the world?

—Butterflies spread to every corner of the planet through great migrations.

00:00Butterflies originated around 100 million years ago in the mid Cretaceous, before bats even existed.

02:14The first butterflies were associated with bean plants and later diversified and co-evolved with other host plants.

04:08Butterflies first adapted to life in the sun in North or Central America.

06:52Butterflies spread to every corner of the planet through great migrations.