With a lifespan of 14-28 days, the Painted Lady butterfly species has made a miraculous journey for its short-lived existence. In 2013, this specific species was discovered by the researcher Gerard Talavera on the sandy bays of French Guiana in South America.
Unsplash/Jeffrey Hamilton
This sighting is unique because the Painted Lady, also known as the Vanessa Cardui, originates from North Africa, which is a very long way from home.
An investigation was conducted to scientifically solve how this exotic-winged tourist in South America can be explained. A possible explanation was discovered through innovative techniques from various worldwide experts, such as individuals from Institut Botànic de Barcelona.
A combination of wind conditions and an energy expenditure analysis indicates that a transatlantic journey was likely the cause. A significant distance to make for a small invertebrate, a postdoctoral candidate, Megan Reich, from the University of Ottawa, says: “I think this study does a good job of demonstrating how much we tend to underestimate the dispersal abilities of insects.”
