Transgenic Plodia larvae expressing the very bright mBaoJin (mStayGold variant) in its silk glands.

Also some gorgeous 3xP3:mCherry staining of larval ocelli and glia.

(see revised preprint) by pantry moth wizards
@donyaniyaz.bsky.social & @lucalivraghi.bsky.social doi.org/10.1101/2025...

Preprint alert from the lab
@jasminealqassar.bsky.social led this elegant study of gene expression in the silk glands of our favorite alternative "silk worm", the pantry moth.

Mega-polyploid cells with thousands of genome copies just to express a handful of proteins

doi.org/10.1101/2025...

So how Bab is itself repressed in males to allow UV-scales?

Well, to our greatest surprise, it's not: the male state w/ Bab absent every other scale (thus allowing UV) is the default

And instead, females need the Doublesex gene to activate Bab!

crazy CRISPR KOs below (+ IF and RNAi in pape)
5/n

Our previous study had shown that there is an developmental off switch for this : expression of the transcription factor Bric-a-Brac (bab) blocks the differentiation of UV scales
doi.org/10.1073/pnas...

4/n

which is made by male specific ultraviolet-iridescent scales with incredible nanostructures on them

3/n

Male Orange Sulphur butterflies (Colias eurytheme) use bright ultraviolet flashes during courtship

2/n

Awesome new paper by @lucalivraghi.bsky.social et al.
doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...
in @currentbiology.bsky.social
on the evo-devo of a butterfly color variation

enjoy the show!

Yea they're super judgy but their babies less so