According to a study Moore co-authored in 2019, male dragonflies with darker wing patterns thrive under colder conditions, whereas warmer conditions dramatically reduce their performance. The latest study highlights that male dragonflies adapted to warmer temperatures by evolving less melanin on their wing patterns. A darker wing coloration is a crucial mating trait for male dragonflies, enticing female mates. Female dragonflies respond less to climate changes, and when they do, it's usually the opposite way as male dragonflies. "We don't yet know what's driving these evolutionary changes in female wing coloration," he said.

Source: CNN July 06, 2021 21:33 UTC