The Lepidopteran Hitchhiker's Guide to the Globe: The Spread and Dispersal of Non‐Native Moths and Butterflies
Henrique Couto, Rui Rebelo, José Grosso‐Silva, Pedro Cardoso, César CapinhaABSTRACT
Aim
To assess the diversity, temporal dynamics, and global distribution of non‐native Lepidoptera.
Location
Global, encompassing 258 non‐overlapping geopolitical regions comprising countries and distinct insular territories.
Time Period
~1500
Major Taxa Studied
Lepidoptera species, with distinctions between moths and butterflies.
Methods
We developed a global dataset of the distribution and timing of first records of established non‐native Lepidoptera by integrating data from multiple, partly incomplete databases and scientific literature. Species were considered non‐native when established beyond their native range as a result of human‐mediated introduction. Using these data, we quantified global exchange flows and temporal trends in first records and identified spatial drivers of invasion using Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs) with region‐level climatic, economic, and land‐use predictors.
Results
A total of 969 species (55 butterflies, 914 moths) have established outside their native range, representing 0.62% of global lepidopteran diversity. First records date back to the 1500s, increased in the early 1900s, and rose sharply after 1960. Most species were recorded in one or two regions only; however, 63 species (2 butterflies, 61 moths) occur in 10 or more regions, with
Galleria mellonella
(110 regions),
Phthorimaea absoluta
(104 regions), and
Main Conclusions
Non‐native Lepidoptera exhibit pronounced global asymmetries in species exchange, increasing recorded establishment rates since the mid‐20th century and elevated richness in temperate, economically developed regions. These patterns highlight the central role of global trade and associated pathways in shaping the redistribution of Lepidoptera worldwide.