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An unusual strategy helps some tropical butterflies live 25 times longer than their relatives
Researchers found Heliconius butterflies still lived far longer than close relatives after pollen was withheld, suggesting evolved anti-aging traits beyond diet.
- On Tuesday, a study published in Nature Communications revealed Heliconius butterflies possess significantly longer lifespans than relatives, with some species living up to 348 days in South and Central America.
- Scientists previously speculated that pollen, rich in lipids and amino acids, fueled this extended life; however, observations showed that even when researchers withheld pollen, these butterflies still outlived non-pollen-feeding relatives.
- To measure age-related decline, the team built "The Pullinator," a device testing butterfly grip strength; Heliconius hecale showed little physiological decline while the non-pollen-feeding Dryas iulia displayed clear age-related lapses.
- Jessica Foley, a postdoctoral scholar at Tufts University, noted that these butterflies provide a potential model for studying human longevity, with researchers hoping these anti-aging mechanisms will yield insights applicable to healthy aging in humans.
- Scientists discovered that Heliconius have evolved anti-aging mechanisms they are still unraveling; these "extreme agers" serve as a critical model for understanding the evolutionary basis of lifespan differences across species.
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Scientists Just Discovered Why a Species of Butterfly Is One of the Longest-Living Creatures on Earth
A butterfly living in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America that seems to have figured out how to live way longer than it should. According to a new study published in Nature Communications and led by researchers at the University of Bristol, butterflies in the Heliconius group were living way longer than their closest relatives. Their ability to age slowly makes them one of the longest-living creatures on the planet. So, of cour…
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Total News Sources10
Leaning Left4Leaning Right0Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution60% Center
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources are Center
60% Center
L 40%
C 60%
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