On a perfect spring day, you might find yourself strolling through a meadow filled with wildflowers, or squatting in the dirt to plant the first seeds in your garden. While you enjoy the sunshine, you might even see a beautiful animal flitting by. Butterflies are magnificent creatures that have fascinated humans since the beginning of recorded history. They appear in poetry, artwork, and a variety of other culturally significant forms around the world. But what were they like long ago? What about the species that once lived on this planet but no longer? This article will explore how butterflies have evolved and become extinct over millions of years, then introduce 3 cool species of extinct butterflies!
What is a butterfly?
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Butterflies are insects of the order Lepidoptera, which also includes moths. The name Lepidoptera is derived from the Greek lepis- For “scale” and pterosaur For “wings”. Butterflies are found all over the world except Antarctica, and many species also migrate long distances. In fact, they migrate so many times that a single person may not survive the entire journey.
Because of this global distribution, butterflies are incredibly diverse. There are approximately 17,500 species of butterflies, 750 of which are found in the United States. They range in size from the 11 inch wingspan of the Alexandra swallowtail butterfly to the 1/2 inch wingspan of the western pygmy bluewing butterfly. Butterflies also come in a variety of shapes, patterns and colors. For example, the oak leaf butterfly is cleverly known as the dead leaf butterfly. When perched on a branch, the undersides of its wings look very much like dead oak leaves, acting as camouflage. Many other species have bright colors for nothing but camouflage!
evolution
The fossil record for butterfly species is sparse, and there are many questions about the history of butterflies. The earliest discovered butterfly species existed during the Paleocene epoch, about 56 million years ago. For perspective, the earliest members of the human lineage were only alive 6 and 7 million years ago! Moths are close relatives of butterflies, and a generally accepted theory is that butterflies evolved from moths.
cool adaptation
Many different butterfly species have unique adaptations that help them survive and reproduce. Monarch butterflies, for example, deter predators by advertising that they are poisonous with their bright wings. The toxicity of brightly colored ads is an example of vigilanceism. This is when an animal uses a smell, color, sound, or other signal to advertise to a predator that it is unpleasant or harmful to attack. Another form of vigilance is the scent that skunks use to deter predators.
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A second cool adaptation of many butterfly species is mimicry. An example of imitation is the viceroy butterfly. Viceroy butterflies are non-venomous to predators and are a favorite food for many birds. However, it does have a cool trick. Viceroy butterflies mimic monarch butterflies, making predators think they are venomous monarch butterflies themselves. Governors who look the most like monarchs survive and reproduce more. Then over many generations, the viceroy butterfly has evolved to look very similar to the monarch butterfly.
Why are butterflies extinct?
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Historically, butterfly species have been vulnerable to climate-related extinction events. Recent studies have shown that rapid climate change has accelerated the demise of different butterfly species that were unable to adapt. This has been the case for many major extinction events, including four of the “big five” mass extinctions, each of which resulted in the extinction of some 75 percent or more of the world’s species. The Permian-Triassic extinction event describes the largest mass extinction event on Earth, in which 90-96% of plant and animal species became extinct. This event was the largest insect extinction event in history.
Depopulation and extinction today
Today, more than 450 species of butterflies are rapidly declining (by about 2 percent per year) due to warmer autumns in the United States alone. Furthermore, in 2020 the US Endangered Species Act denies protection to the western monarch butterfly despite a 99.9% decline in its population. However, it is considered endangered by the IUCN. Many more butterfly species around the world face similar threats. One notable endangered species is the Queen Alexandra birdwing, the world’s largest butterfly, currently restricted to 40 square miles of coastal rainforest in Papua New Guinea.
After learning a little about their history and evolution, let’s meet 3 cool extinct butterflies!
1. Protocoelah: The oldest butterfly fossil
The first cool extinct butterfly we’ll investigate is Protocoelah. This is the oldest butterfly fossil ever found, about 55 million years ago! It was found on the island of Fur in what is now Denmark. Only one fossil of this species has been found. Due to limited evidence, it is not clear why the species became extinct.Although P. kristinseni Very old, with even older moth fossils dating back 190 million years! This means that ancient moths were alive to see dinosaurs during the Jurassic period.
Protocoelah Probably lived between 550 and 48.6 million years ago. Because there is little fossil evidence for this species, scientists have studied its living relatives and compared them to fossils. Protocoelah Closely related to ‘Awl’, a living skipper butterfly of the genus Yukong.
2. Xerces blue (glaucoma): the most recent extinction
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The second extinct butterfly we’ll encounter is the Xerces blue. The Xerces blue butterfly grabs headlines as the first American butterfly to become extinct due to urban development. The Xerces blue is a vibrant blue indigo butterfly. Its wings are darker near the edges but have a distinctive white outline.
Human actions are responsible for this latest extinction. The lotus flower, which is an essential food source for the larval stage of the butterfly, was killed. The plant cannot survive in soils polluted by industrialization, therefore, the Xerces blue cannot survive the loss of this food resource. The Xerces blue hasn’t been seen since it was discovered in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in 1941. It is now officially listed as extinct by the IUCN. Unfortunately, urban growth in the United States and around the world has negatively impacted many plant and animal species.
3. Persephone: a very interesting species
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The last extinct butterfly we’ll learn about is Persephone. This is a monotypic genus, meaning Persephone It is the only species in this genus. Prodias It is a now extinct member of the most prolific butterfly family Nymphalidae. This family includes 6,000 species, including the popular monarch, monarch, and admiral butterflies we often admire today. The dead leaf butterfly we met just now also belongs to this family!
Persephone Alive during the Eocene Epoch of the Chadronian era between 38 and 33.9 million years ago. It is known from a single, extremely well-preserved fossil, the first fossil butterfly ever found in North America.someone argues P. persephone Due to its extreme detail, it is the best preserved butterfly fossil ever found. Each wing was about 1 inch long and can be clearly seen in the compressed fossil. Scientists predict the body to be brown, as are the wings, with lighter orange-brown markings. These speculations are based on the characteristics of closely related biological species.
Fun fact:
This ancient butterfly takes its name from an important figure in Greek mythology. Persephone was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter and wife of Hades. In “The Odyssey”, she is called “the terrible Persephone”, and she is always accompanied by Hades in the underworld. She also has the title of “Queen of the Underworld”. Interestingly, the scientists who first described the new genus and species named two other species. They also reference Greek mythology – specifically, they also reference the underworld.
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I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
