Digest: Between yellow and orange: genomics of hybridization in Colias butterflies

How does hybridization shift over time, and what are its consequences on phenotypic variation? Using genomics, Jahner et al. (2026) show how hybridization between Colias butterflies has shifted over a 5-year period, with complex impacts on phenotype (wing color). While most hybrids had intermediate phenotypes, relatively few butterflies with intermediate wing colors were themselves hybrids. These results not only highlight the fluctuating role of hybridization but also demonstrate its subtle and complex impacts on phenotypes.