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Butterflies are charismatic, colourful and cherished around the world. One of the most diverse groups of insects, with more than 19,000 described species, they inspire international organizations such as the and the , as well as countless devoted to their , and .

This fascination is so widespread that it shapes the science we do. In our research, we’ve shown that , simply because they’re more colourful and look more interesting. That collective enthusiasm has transformed butterflies into one of the best-studied insect groups on Earth.

Now, new research suggests butterflies are more than just pretty faces — they may .

Our own research focuses on how organisms adapt to their environments and what these changes reveal about broader ecological processes. Jayme Lewthwaite has studied Canadian butterflies for over a decade, studying traits associated with their changing ranges. Arne Mooers is a comparative biologist, probing adaptation by considering differences between related species.

Here we consider why exceptionally long-lived butterflies evolved in the first place, and what their biology might (and might not) tell us about aging generally.

A butterfly that eats pollen

An international team of researchers — the Heliconius genus — that have evolved lifespans many times longer than other butterflies.

Part of this longer lifespan seems to be due to a unique adaptation: whereas most adult butterflies rely entirely on sugary nectar to fuel them, Heliconius butterflies have evolved to also eat pollen.

This protein-rich food source is linked to slower physical decline, with older butterflies in this group maintaining muscle function far longer than their non-pollen feeding relatives.

The researchers suggest this observation may help us understand aging in other species, including humans, by identifying mechanisms that extend health span — the period of life spent in good health — rather than simply lifespan.

From sensors to bullet trains

Butterflies have inspired helpful breakthroughs before. For instance, is a striking tropical species with blue wings that shimmer in the light.

The arrangement of the microscopic layers behind this iridescent “structural colour” has inspired a broad and even .

And of course, butterflies are not alone: the natural world is constantly inspiring scientific advances in other fields. The streamlined shape of kingfisher beaks helped engineers and more energy-efficient.

But back to these healthy Heliconius. To appreciate the new observations, we have to first ask: why do we age at all?

Safe lives are longer lives

Technically, aging is a decrease in performance as time goes by, generally leading to an increase in the probability of dying. As anyone who finally gave up on their old rust-bucket jalopy knows, things eventually wear out beyond the point of repair.

But when do you stop investing? Species that are likely to die from external forces no matter how much they invest in their health have evolved to invest less in maintaining performance, because, truly, what’s the point? The rule for such species is “live fast,” and they age quickly. In contrast, species who live in relatively safe environments have evolved to keep on investing.

So, for instance, because trees are relatively safe places, than similar-sized species that spend their life on the ground.

Opossum populations living on predator-free islands than populations of the same species living on the mainland. If you are expected to live to see another spring and produce another litter, evolution will favour genes that actively slow aging.

Insects live very perilous lives. so few live more than a month or two in nature.

The exceptions prove the rule: cicadas live 13 to 17 years but ; queen termites , laying eggs for decades, nestled deep in their mounds, far from predators and disease.

Distasteful to birds

Some Heliconius species can live over 10 months in an insectarium. Importantly, even when deprived of pollen, they seem to age more slowly.

So, it isn’t just their diet that prolongs their life. They have evolved. These species are and have bright and distinctive colouring. Birds learn quickly to avoid them. So, it could be that Heliconius lead less-perilous lives than your average butterfly.

In contrast, several of the shorter-lived cousins the authors compared Heliconius to, though they mimic distasteful species, . Perhaps they are more likely to be eaten.

With this in mind, as the authors themselves suggest, it would be interesting to gather data on predation rates in the wild. If the chance of being eaten is lower in slow-aging Heliconius species than in, for example, quick-aging Dione species, it stands to reason that evolution favoured longevity, as it did for the opossums. Diet might matter, but only indirectly.

Another interesting data point would be the external mortality rates of a shorter-lived, protein-feeding Heliconius, such as the H. eleuchia.

Protein for longevity?

Eating protein is , though eating more does not usually in humans. Then again, we don’t eat pollen.

That said, the long-lived Heliconius is different from humans in a potentially more important way: the protein the butterflies eat is used primarily for making eggs, something . We, of course, have not evolved to live like this.

So, while these Heliconius live longer lives than their cousins, it remains to be seen if they are set to become trend-setting nutrition gurus. More likely, learning how short- and long-lived species maintain their condition will shed light on the general physiology of aging.

–
 is a postdoctoral fellow in entomology at �Ӱ�ԭ�� University.

This article is  from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence. All photos provided by  from various from various sources.

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