News · 17 June 2026
Pollen-eating butterflies live for almost a year
Unsplash / Ray Hennessy
Most butterflies live only a few weeks, but new research shows some can survive for nearly a year. Scientists studying the Heliconius genus found they are the only butterflies known to eat pollen as adults, which is rich in fats and amino acids. The pollen-eaters lived for around 177 days on average, compared to just 58 days for non-pollen-consuming relatives.
Reported by ScienceAlert · How we write briefs