A study looking at the genetic basis and evolutionary history of the female limited alternative life-history strategy, ALba, found in the butterfly genus Colias.
Alba is an alternative life-history strategy found in several butterfly species that members of the Colias genus. Alba females reallocate metabolic resources used in wing coloration to reproductive development. Here we show that the genetic mechanism of the trait is caused by a TE insertion downstream of the gene BarH-1 and that this is insertion is shared across all the European and North American species with Alba. We are also able to demonstrate a cis-regulatory function of a conserved of the TE, giving us insights into the mechanism.