N. Wahlberg

One Method to Sequence Them All? Comparison between Whole-Genome Sequencing (WGS) and Target Enrichment (TE) of museum specimens from the moth families Epicopeiidae and Sematuridae (Lepidoptera)

This study compares whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and target enrichment (TE) methods for sequencing degraded DNA from museum moth specimens, finding WGS recovers more data and supports phylogenetic relationships.

Genome-wide gene birth-death dynamics are associated with diet breadth variation in Lepidoptera

The paper analyzes gene birth-death dynamics across 30 Lepidoptera species to identify gene families associated with diet breadth variation, finding correlations with pesticide resistance, detoxification, and pheromone receptor changes.

Large-scale assessment of habitat quality and quantity change on declining European butterflies

This study assesses habitat quality and quantity changes in European butterflies and finds habitat quality, not area, is the main driver of biodiversity decline.

The phylogenetic placement of an enigmatic moth Egybolis vaillantina based on museomics

This study uses multi-locus sequencing to place the moth Egybolis vaillantina within a clade of Erebidae moths, suggesting its reclassification into the subfamily Erebinae.

Evolutionary history of Euteliidae (Lepidoptera, Noctuoidea)

This study reconstructs the evolutionary history of Euteliidae moths, revealing their adaptation to resinous and latex-producing plants and identifying taxonomic revisions and divergence times.

Airborne environmental DNA metabarcoding for the monitoring of terrestrial insects - a proof of concept

This study demonstrates airborne environmental DNA metabarcoding can detect multiple insect orders and vertebrate species, offering a new approach for terrestrial biodiversity monitoring.

The (non) accuracy of mitochondrial genomes for family level phylogenetics: the case of erebid moths (Lepidoptera; Erebidae)

This study evaluates the accuracy of mitochondrial genomes in resolving phylogenetic relationships within Erebidae moths, finding they are inadequate for subfamily-level relationships but show potential for lower-level relationships with good taxon sampling.

The unresolved phylogenomic tree of butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera): assessing the potential causes and consequences

The paper assesses unresolved phylogenetic relationships in butterflies and moths using a large dataset, finding discordant results due to compositional bias and insufficient taxon sampling.

Mesoamerica is a cradle and the Atlantic Forest is a museum of Neotropical butterfly diversity: Insights from the evolution and biogeography of Brassolini (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

This study examines the evolutionary and biogeographical patterns of Neotropical butterflies, finding that Mesoamerica acts as a cradle of diversity while the Atlantic Forest functions as a museum.

Museomics of a rare taxon: placing Whalleyanidae in the Lepidoptera Tree of Life

The paper uses whole genome sequencing of museum specimens to place the Whalleyanidae in the Lepidoptera tree of life, finding it sister to Callidulidae and supporting its placement in the Calliduloidea superfamily.

The latitudinal diversity gradient in brush-footed butterflies (Nymphalidae): conserved ancestral tropical niche but different continental histories.

This study evaluates hypotheses for the latitudinal diversity gradient in Nymphalidae butterflies, finding that low extinction rates and historical dispersal patterns, rather than speciation rates, explain diversity patterns.

A complete time-calibrated multi-gene phylogeny of the European butterflies

This paper constructs a time-calibrated multi-gene phylogeny of all 496 European butterfly species using Bayesian inference.

Species limits in butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae): Reconciling classical taxonomy with the multispecies coalescent

The paper applies coalescent-based methods to resolve species limits in butterflies, identifying 22 species and addressing taxonomic and genetic uncertainties.

Towards Resolving and Redefining Amphipyrinae (Lepidoptera, Noctuoidea, Noctuidae): a Massively Polyphyletic Taxon

This paper redefines Amphipyrinae as a polyphyletic group using molecular phylogenetics, transferring several genera to other subfamilies and proposing nomenclatural changes.

The Trials and Tribulations of Priors and Posteriors in Bayesian Timing of Divergence Analyses: the Age of Butterflies Revisited

The paper evaluates the impact of priors on divergence timing estimates in butterflies using a large phylogeny and fossil calibrations, finding robust results for the origin of butterflies.