Scientists discover new butterfly species after 40,000 years of isolation

Listen to article

Scientists have discovered a new butterfly species, Satyrium curiosolus, in Canada’s Alberta Waterton Lakes National Park, following groundbreaking genomic research that revealed its 40,000-year evolutionary isolation.

The butterfly, long misidentified as Satyrium semiluna, is now recognised as a distinct species based on genetic, ecological, and behavioral evidence.

With a wingspan of just over an inch and muted brown coloring, S. curiosolus lives exclusively on the Blakiston Fan, a prairie-grassland habitat unlike the sagebrush ecosystems of its relatives.

It depends on silvery lupine (Lupinus argenteus) for larval development and has a unique mutualistic relationship with Lasius ponderosae ants—providing them honeydew in exchange for protection.

A new study published in ZooKeys found that S. curiosolus has extremely low genetic diversity and high historical inbreeding.

Despite these traits, researchers believe the butterfly has maintained a stable population, similar to how island species like the Channel Island fox have purged harmful mutations over time.

Researchers warn that climate change could threaten this isolated species.

Genetic rescue options are limited due to its distinctiveness and potential reproductive incompatibility with related species.

Conservationists are now exploring the possibility of establishing additional populations to safeguard its future.

“This is a textbook example of how genomics is transforming conservation and species discovery,” said co-author Julian Dupuis of the University of Kentucky.

The study highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between scientists, conservationists, and Parks Canada.

The discovery of S. curiosolus underscores the need to protect cryptic biodiversity and adapt conservation efforts to address species uniquely vulnerable to environmental change.

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}