The red postman butterfly takes bacterial ‘makeup’ to a
whole new beautiful level! Recent studies at the University of Colorado have
finally sequenced the three major life stages of a butterfly, showing some
surprising changes during metamorphosis. Using DNA sequencing methods, they
were able to categorize the microbial communities that make up each stage of a
butterfly’s life, caterpillar, pupae and adults and establish what the microbes
did in order to achieve the next stage. The results were astonishing. Going
from caterpillar to pupae, the bacteria halved itself, then doubled again to
morph into an adult. It seemed as though the microbes simplified and
reorganized themselves during each process.
This is important because according to the article, the same
process in other insects often leaves them with digestion and nutritional
problems, and too weak to defend themselves against predators. Also, the
transformation of butterflies is a beautiful thing in itself, and until now, we
never really knew how it all happened. How something that’s all squirmy and
squishy can turn itself into a catalyst, and come out vibrant and virtually a
totally different creature. They chose to examine the red postman butterfly
because they’ve already proven to have a different microbial anatomy than other
species of butterflies. This specific group has learned to feed on pollen
instead of nectar, which extends their lives from weeks to months. “This is a
unique trait to this genus and could be mediated by its microbiome.” It’s very
interesting to see that even though they’re categorized as a butterfly, some
simple differences in their microbes can have the largest effects on them.
Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140130111005.htm
Image: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140130111005.htm
