The tiny butterfly migrates thousands of kilometers from Africa to Europe
LONDON: Scientists have discovered that a butterfly travels the longest of all insects when it migrates. If the weather is fine, the butterflies travel 12,000 to 14,000 kilometers, including a temporary shelter from home and a return home.
Scientists have revealed that a kind of ‘painted lady butterfly’ that travels from sub-Saharan Africa to Europe travels to Europe and travels thousands of kilometers. This is by far the longest migration of any insect. When the weather is humid, the butterflies lay more eggs than the plants grow there and thus a large number of them go on long journeys.
In the context of climate change, experts have tried to figure out how in the future these insects and other yellow-spreading insects could spread diseases and germs from one continent to another. Tim Oliver, a professor at the University of Reading, said the number of painted butterflies arriving in Europe is increasing 100-fold from one year to the next. But we do not know why. Then the idea of crossing Europe and the seas from the Sahara was not proven.
But now research has shown that this incredibly long journey is possible. It also shows how climate change can increase the number of butterflies and that international co-operation is needed to protect them.
By understanding them, we can learn a great deal about sudden heart attacks and the spread of self-spreading mosquitoes in Africa. Experts believe that climate change may increase the incidence of insect-borne diseases.
These butterflies begin their journey in the spring and thousands of volunteers have been trained to find their way. Along with this, the weather conditions in Europe and Africa have been observed, after which the experts have given the Painted Lady the honor of being the longest traveling insect.
According to scientists, these butterflies fly without stopping during the day and spend the night resting on the sweat of flowers. It is estimated that butterflies travel at an altitude of one to three kilometers above sea level and take advantage of special winds. Sometimes they even reach speeds of up to six meters per level.
