Revolutionizing biodiversity genomics by sequencing butterflies and moths
The pan-European research project Psyche will sequence genomes of all 11,000 described species of butterflies and moths of Europe and thereby revolutionize biodiversity genomics. 1,000 genomes are already completed.
Spurge hawkmoth (Hyles euphorbiae) is one of the species studied withing Project Psyche. Photo: Niklas Wahlberg
Project Psyche is a trans-national initiative to generate and study chromosome-level reference genomes of all 11,000 described species of Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) found in Europe. The Project Psyche community encompasses diverse researchers, amateur lepidopterists, practitioners, and industry experts. The pan-European catalogue of openly accessible lepidopteran genomes that is now under construction will transform the understanding of evolution and ecology, inform conservation, and foster advances in pest management.
In a newly published article in the scientific journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution researchers within Psyche write about their consortia and the genomes of the completed butterfly and moth species.
Revolutionizing biodiversity genomics
“Project Psyche is revolutionizing biodiversity genomics by aiming to sequence all 11,000 butterfly and moth species in Europe – with 1,000 genomes already completed. This is the highest number across all eukaryotic orders,” says Niklas Wahlberg, Professor in Biological Systematics at the Department of Biology, Lund University and one of the researchers in the project. This unprecedented dataset allows a fundamental shift in research into how complex traits evolve, why some lineages explode in diversity while others don't, and how chromosomes reshape themselves over millions of years.
Christopher Wheat, Professor of Population Genetics at the Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, also a researcher in the project, continues:
Christopher Wheat. Photo: Stockholm University
“Beyond pure science, these genomes are immediate tools for conservation – helping track declining species, inform breeding programs, and develop sustainable pest management strategies that protect crops without devastating ecosystems. By making all data openly accessible and training researchers across Europe, Project Psyche demonstrates how coordinated, inclusive science can address both evolutionary mysteries and urgent societal challenges like biodiversity loss and food security.”
Christopher Wheat adds that the dataset creates a standardized resource that allows meaningful comparisons across 230 million years of evolution while simultaneously serving conservation practitioners and agricultural scientists today.
The datasets generated in the project will allow Christopher Wheat´s other large-scale consortia, called LepEU, to begin the work of using the genomes from Project Psyche to study the population dynamics of butterflies and moths across all of Europe.
Read article in Trends in Ecology & Evolution
Pink-barred sallow. Photo: Niklas Wahlberg
Facts about Project Psyche
Lepidoptera, i.e. butterflies and moths, are vital components of the global ecosystem. Project Psyche is a pan-European research project established to sequence the genomes of all butterflies and moths of Europe; helping to conserve, protect and drive innovation. Psyche is named after the Greek goddess of the soul – who was frequently depicted with butterfly wings and is renowned for her beauty.
One tenth of all named species on planet Earth belong to the insect order Lepidoptera – the moths and butterflies. They are vital pollinators, herbivores and food sources for numerous species. They also serve as powerful indicator species for the health and conservation status of ecosystems.
Europe is home to some 11,000 species of Lepidoptera: from widespread pests of agricultural ecosystems, to rare and endangered species with limited distributions. The project aims to produce a genome sequence for each species, enabling a step-change in our understanding of the biology and evolution of this group.
The genomes analysed within Psyche are publicly available and free to use.
Read more about Project Psyche
Last updated: 2025-12-02
Source: Communications Office