The secret of longevity has been discovered in an unexpected animal species

Most butterflies live only a few weeks, yet an international team of researchers has discovered true longevity champions among them. It turns out that some species can live for nearly a year — 25 times longer than their closest relatives. The results of the study have been published in the journal Nature Communications (NatCom).

Lifespan in the animal kingdom is strikingly diverse: some creatures live mere minutes, while others survive for entire centuries. Butterflies, however, have traditionally been considered among the most short-lived insects — many of them spend only a few weeks in the world after transforming into adults.

To understand what factors determine the lifespan of these fragile creatures, scientists conducted a detailed analysis of data on ten butterfly species from the tribe Heliconiini. They drew on field observation materials, mark-and-recapture programs, as well as information from public insectariums and live butterfly exhibitions.

The results surprised even the researchers themselves. The maximum recorded lifespan ranged from a modest 14 days for the species Dione juno to an impressive 348 days for the butterfly Heliconius hewitsoni. According to the authors, such an enormous variation among closely related species had virtually never been documented before among terrestrial animals.

Butterflies of the genus Heliconius were of particular interest to the scientists. These are the only butterflies known to science that in adulthood feed not only on nectar but also on plant pollen.

It was precisely the representatives of this genus that turned out to be the absolute record holders for longevity. Their average maximum lifespan was approximately 177 days, whereas for closely related species that do not consume pollen, it was only around 58 days.

But a long life is not their only advantage. The long-lived butterflies demonstrated slower aging, a lower probability of death throughout their lives, and even better physical condition. The researchers note that these insects outperformed their relatives in grip strength — the scientists figuratively compared this metric to deadlift results in humans.

The authors of the study emphasize that the reasons for such unusual longevity have not yet been fully uncovered. Further research should clarify the roles played by genetics, diet, and lifestyle characteristics. In the long term, understanding the mechanisms of decelerated aging in animals could also prove valuable for studying human aging processes.