Genomic and ecological divergence support recognition of a new species of endangered <i>Satyrium</i> butterfly (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae).

ABSTRACT: We describe a highly isolated population of hairstreak butterfly from Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, Canada, as a new species, Satyriumcuriosolus sp. nov., previously recognized as Satyriumsemiluna (Half-moon Hairstreak). We propose "Curiously Isolated Hairstreak" as the common name due to its disjunct and unusual distribution. Previous whole-genome analyses revealed S.curiosolus has extremely low genomic diversity and is highly divergent from the nearest S.semiluna populations in British Columbia and Montana, more than 400 km distant. Further analysis suggested prolonged inbreeding and isolation for up to ~40,000 years BP. Ecological niche modeling indicated that S.curiosolus occupies environmental conditions that are distinct from S.se

SUBMITTER: MacDonald ZG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12022668 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature