One tenth of all named species on planet Earth belong to the insect order Lepidoptera – the moths and butterflies. They are vital pollinators, herbivores and food sources for many other species. They also serve as powerful indicator species for the health and conservation status of ecosystems. About 10,000 species of Lepidoptera are native to the continent of Europe, from widespread pests of agricultural ecosystems to rare and endangered species with limited distributions. We aim to produce a genome sequence for each species, enabling a step-change in our understanding of this group.
We call this project Psyche, after the Greek goddess of the soul – who is frequently depicted with butterfly wings, and is renowned for her beauty.