Ancient Poop Rewrites Butterfly Evolution History

Ancient Poop Reveals Secrets of Butterfly Evolution A recent discovery of fossilized feces (coprolites) in Argentina and Russia has rewritten our understanding of butterfly and moth evolution. The coprolites, millions of years old, contain remarkably preserved hair and insect scales, pushing back the known evolutionary timeline for these insects. "These poops are over 250 million years old," explains Zeke Darwin, a science teacher and TikToker who shared the findings in a viral video. His analysis of the coprolites, which originated from both South America and Russia, revealed the presence of fossilized hair and the scales of ancient insects. This discovery is significant because insect fossils, particularly of delicate structures like wings, are extremely rare. The Argentine coprolite, slightly younger at approximately 230 million years old, is distinctly different in shape from its Russian counterpart. This difference highlights the varying diets and environments of the ancient creatures that produced them. The video also connects this finding to the broader understanding of the evolution of Lepidoptera and its sister group, Trichoptera (caddisflies). This exciting discovery underscores the importance of seemingly insignificant fossils in unraveling the mysteries of the past. The unexpected insights from these ancient coprolites showcase the remarkable resilience and adaptability of life on Earth.