Whole-genomes from the extinct Xerces Blue butterfly can help identify declining insect species

• DOI: 10.7554/elife.87928.1
• Publication Date: 2023-07-11T11:39:32Z
• Authors: Toni de-Dios; Claudia Fontsere; Pere Renom; Josefin Stiller; Laia Llovera; Marcela Uliano-Silva; Alejandro Sánchez...; Charlotte Wright; Esther Lizano; Berta Caballero; Arcadi Navarro; Sergi Civit; Robert K. Robbins; Mark Blaxter; Tomàs Marquès-Bonet; Roger Vila; Carles Lalueza-Fox
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Evolutionary Biology; QH301-705.5; Science; Green-Underside Blue; Q; Genome, Insect; R; Extinction, Biological; Silvery Blue; 03 medical and health sciences; Medicine; Animals; Xerxes Blue; Biology (General); Butterflies; Phylogeny

Abstract The Xerces Blue (Glaucopsyche xerces) is considered to be the first butterfly become extinct at global scale in historical times. It was notable for its chalky lavender wings with conspicuous white spots on ventral wings. last individuals were collected their restricted habitat, dunes near Presidio military base San Francisco, 1941. We sequenced genomes of four 80 100-year-old Blue, and seven one modern specimens closest relative, Silvery (G. lygdamus). compared these a novel annotated genome Green-Underside alexis). Phylogenetic relationships inferred from complete mitochondrial indicate that distinct species diverged lineage least 850,000 years ago. Using nuclear genomes, both experienced population growth during Eemian interglacial period, but decreased very low effective size subsequently, trend opposite observed Blue. Runs homozygosity deleterious load significantly greater than suggesting higher incidence inbreeding. These signals decline could used identify monitor other insects threatened by human activities, whose extinction patterns are still not well known.