Photograph: Wikimedia Commons user “Polygonia c-album”. Cropped and resized. · Source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Butterflies and moths live in nearly every terrestrial ecosystem and are especially diverse in the Neotropics. They are an ideal group for studying ecology, evolution and conservation.
But most species in the region still lack reference genomes and genetic markers. Caligo brings researchers and resources together across Latin America to identify species, discover new ones and study how they arise.
Produce DNA barcodes, population data and reference assemblies for taxonomic groups that remain poorly represented.
Each sequence or assembly points to a documented specimen in a collection, so researchers can check which organism was sequenced and where it came from.
Expand sequencing, sample banking and bioinformatics in Latin America, from country capitals to remote field sites in areas of high biodiversity.
Support training, open data and shared publications while recognising everyone who contributes specimens, analysis or knowledge.
Eight researchers from institutions in Latin America and Europe coordinate the community.
Butterfly ecology and environmental response
Regional ties: Ecuador
Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam
Profile at IkiamUniversidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam
At Ikiam’s Scientific Insectary, Caroline studies the genetics, molecular evolution and behaviour of Amazonian Lepidoptera, including their responses to environmental change.
Butterfly ecology and biodiversity monitoring
Regional ties: Guyana
University of Guyana
University of Guyana profileUniversity of Guyana
Gyanpriya studies the diversity, genetics, physiology, ecology and behaviour of Neotropical butterflies, alongside broader work in entomology and insect monitoring.
Conservation and population genetics
Regional ties: BrazilColombia
Universidade Federal de Goiás
PUC Goiás research featureUniversidade Federal de Goiás
Carmen combines molecular ecology and conservation genetics to study Neotropical species, population history and biodiversity conservation.
Evolutionary genomics and speciation
Regional ties: Panama
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Smithsonian team profileSmithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Carlos studies how species form and what limits their divergence, using computational methods and Heliconius butterflies.
Chromosome evolution
Regional ties: ColombiaUnited Kingdom
Wellcome Sanger Institute
Profile at SangerWellcome Sanger Institute
Nicol studies chromosome structure and sex chromosome-autosome fusions in Heliconius, using reference genomes to investigate Lepidoptera evolution.
Speciation and comparative genomics
Regional ties: EcuadorPeruUnited Kingdom
Wellcome Sanger Institute
Profile at SangerWellcome Sanger Institute
Joana works on speciation and evolutionary genomics, studying how interbreeding and chromosomal rearrangements contribute to rapid adaptation and the formation of new species.
Tropical adaptation and genome resources
Regional ties: ColombiaUnited Kingdom
Queen Mary University of London
Profile at Queen MaryQueen Mary University of London
Vicencio combines development, genomics, evolutionary biology and ecology to study how tropical butterflies adapt to environmental change.
Amazonian entomology and conservation
Regional ties: PeruUnited States
Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú / Alianza para una Amazonía Sostenible
Profile at PUCPPontificia Universidad Católica del Perú / Alianza para una Amazonía Sostenible
Geoff studies the taxonomy, systematics, ecology and conservation of Amazonian insects. He also teaches and supervises research on sustainable biodiversity management in Peru.
Bring a question, an organism or your expertise
Join the networkEight partner facilities in six countries can sequence Caligo samples close to where they are collected.
Outside the map
Workshops, hackathons and other events help us learn together and grow the network.
Bogotá, Colombia
The network’s first activity in Latin America, with the Red Colombiana de Genómica. Eight Heliconius species were sequenced during the workshop.
The Heliconius pilot projectColombia
Our first call supported local pilot projects to sequence Lepidoptera species from Colombia.
See past callEcuador
This call funds local research teams to sequence Lepidoptera species native to Ecuador.
This call funded local research teams to sequence Lepidoptera species native to Ecuador.
See the callSee past callCampinas, Brazil
Hackathon at the Biology of Butterflies and ELEN (Neotropical Lepidoptera meeting) congress: participants assemble reference genomes and analyse the data together.
Congress websiteYou can contribute specimens, sequencing capacity, taxonomic knowledge or a research question. Register with the network, join the conversation on Discord or contact us by email.
