Globetrotting butterflies traveled 2,600 miles across the Atlantic, stunned scientists say
These ladies are found all over the world, but a new study showed these daring butterflies migrate across the ocean for thousands of miles.
Painted lady butterflies, Vanessa cardui, fly at least 2,610 miles, 4,200 kilometers, across the Atlantic, from West Africa to French Guiana in South America, according to a new study published by Nature Communications in June.
The study adds that the butterflies possibly traveled at least 4,345 miles, 7,000 kilometers, from the point of butterfly emergence, meaning the location where the butterflies emerged from their cocoons.
"The overall journey, which was energetically feasible only if assisted by winds, is among the longest documented for individual insects, and potentially the first verified transatlantic crossing," states the study.
The well-traveled insects are found in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, and Central America, and much like Monarch butterflies, they are migratory, according to Wisconsin Horticulture.
"Insects on the move are often observed far from their native range in open waters from ships at sea and from ocean platforms, on remote, unsuitable islands, or arriving along coastal beaches from trajectories that appear to stretch far out to sea," states the study. "Despite decades of accumulated evidence, insect long-distance dispersal (LDD) nevertheless remains overlooked due to the dearth of reliable methods to track long-distance movements of such small and short-lived organisms."
How did they track the butterflies?
In October 2013, three of the 10 butterflies that were observed in the study were caught on a beach in French Guiana with damaged wings after a "vigorous flight across the ocean."
Stable populations were never recorded in South America, so the butterflies, which are known as strong migrators, should have originated from one of the following continents, according to the study:
- North America
- Europe
- Africa
Reconstructing hourly backward wind trajectories from the beach where researchers captured the exhausted bugs and other methods show the butterflies arrived at the beach from West Africa.
Can painted ladies be found in the US?
Yes! The Painted lady butterfly can be found in every continent except Australia and Antarctica, states University of Colorado Boulder's Museum of Natural History.
Painted ladies do not have a seasonal pattern, but there are some theories on what determines their migratory pattern.
"Some hypothesize that their migratory patterns are influenced by heavy rains like El Niño, which may impact the abundance of their larval hostplants," states the Museum. "In North America, we usually see Painted Lady butterflies migrating in the northwestern direction during spring, and sometimes we see a second migration back southward during autumn.
The butterflies also migrate to Canada and Mexico. Their migration spans multiple generations.
What can I plant to attract painted lady butterflies?
The butterflies are attracted to over 100 different kinds of flowers, states Gardenia, but prefer flowers from the Family Asteraceae, like thistles. But Mallows from the Malvaceae family is another great choice.
The butterflies are also attracted to legume plants like alfalfa and clover, according to Insect Lore.
Their caterpillars have huge but similar appetites. While they prefer to eat thistles, they also like to munch on other plants mentioned above.
When putting together the perfect butterfly garden for the painted ladies, make sure not to use herbicides or insecticides to avoid harming the hungry caterpillars or their parents.
Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. She has covered various topics, from local businesses and government in her hometown, Miami, to tech and pop culture. You can connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on X, formerly Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz