Neuroethology on the move with butterflies and moths

Lepidopteran insects, namely butterflies and moths, are visually striking and have fascinated scientists as well as the general public for decades, prompting fundamental questions about how they live and evolve. On the occasion of the International Congress of Neuroethology in Berlin in 2024, we had a satellite symposium entitled “Lepidopteran Neuroethology” for the first time, which motivated us to create this Special Issue of the Journal of Comparative Physiology A. This Special Issue highlights recent advances in sensory perception, flight control, navigation, neuroanatomy, and evolution through seven review articles and nine original research papers, together representing the breadth and richness of neuroethological research across Lepidoptera. The Issue concludes with an insightful review of emerging tools that are shaping future research in the field.