How a group of butterflies flew 2,600 miles across the Atlantic Ocean without stopping

Painted lady butterflies have been discovered flying across the Atlantic Ocean without stopping, in a new study published in the journal Nature Communications. The butterflies, known scientifically as Vanessa cardui, were found on a beach in French Guiana, South America, after a long-distance journey. The researchers ruled out several factors before concluding that the butterflies had crossed the ocean, including their ability to fly without stopping for up to five to eight days and favorable wind conditions. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about the migratory capabilities of butterflies and raises questions about their long-distance journeys in the past.