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<p>Butterflies and moths, together forming Lepidoptera, are among the most diverse groups of insects, with at least 161,572 described species. Lepidoptera have a pivotal role as pollinators, represent among the most species-rich clades of herbivorous insects and serve as essential components of food webs, providing sustenance for birds, reptiles, bats and arthropods. Although Lepidoptera have become a model system for many disciplines, a synthetic understanding of their remarkable biodiversity, evolution, distribution and importance is lacking. Here, we address this gap and highlight several key findings. Relationships of some Lepidoptera superfamilies, particularly within Ditrysia, remain unclear. Diversification rates are higher in later-diverging clades of butterflies than earlier-diverging clades. Taxonomic and genomic research on butterflies and large moths&#xa0;are improving in the modern era but remain poor in small moths. Although diversity hotspots are concentrated in the tropics, research efforts have disproportionately focused on temperate regions. Conservation measures such as the creation and restoration of natural habitats that are better connected and managed to improve their quality should be considered in the context of climate and habitat change.</p>

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Evolution, genomics and conservation of butterflies and moths

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月16日

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  • Charlotte J. Wright,
  • Vaughn M. Shirey,
  • Fabien L. Condamine,
  • Jane K. Hill,
  • Naomi E. Pierce,
  • Niklas Wahlberg,
  • Akito Y. Kawahara

摘要

Butterflies and moths, together forming Lepidoptera, are among the most diverse groups of insects, with at least 161,572 described species. Lepidoptera have a pivotal role as pollinators, represent among the most species-rich clades of herbivorous insects and serve as essential components of food webs, providing sustenance for birds, reptiles, bats and arthropods. Although Lepidoptera have become a model system for many disciplines, a synthetic understanding of their remarkable biodiversity, evolution, distribution and importance is lacking. Here, we address this gap and highlight several key findings. Relationships of some Lepidoptera superfamilies, particularly within Ditrysia, remain unclear. Diversification rates are higher in later-diverging clades of butterflies than earlier-diverging clades. Taxonomic and genomic research on butterflies and large moths are improving in the modern era but remain poor in small moths. Although diversity hotspots are concentrated in the tropics, research efforts have disproportionately focused on temperate regions. Conservation measures such as the creation and restoration of natural habitats that are better connected and managed to improve their quality should be considered in the context of climate and habitat change.