Evolution of increased longevity and slowed ageing in a genus of tropical butterfly (opens in new tab)

Evolution has given rise to lifespans in extant species ranging from days to centuries. Given that mechanisms of ageing are highly conserved, studying long-lived lineages across the animal kingdom could yield insights relevant for healthy ageing in humans. The long lifespans reported for the Heliconius butterfly genus position it as a promising new model system for such studies, but its potential is limited by a paucity of available data. Here, we collate data from commercial butterfly houses...