Human-driven evolution of insect color

Adaptation is thought critical for the survival of species under global change, but our understanding of human-induced evolution in the wild remains limited. Here we show that widespread deforestation has underpinned repeated color shifts in wild insects. Loss of forest cover has led to drastic color evolution across lineages that mimic the warning coloration of a toxic forest stonefly. Predation experiments indicate that the relative fitness of color phenotypes varies markedly between forested and deforested habitats. Genomic and coloration analyses of 1200 wild specimens reveal repeated selection at the ebony locus controlling color polymorphism across lineages. These findings represent a compelling case of rapid, replicated anthropogenic evolution linking both the agents and targets of natural selection, revealing the potential for wild populations to adapt in the wake of human-driven change., Colour measurements
Digital photography was used to obtain color measurements as reflectance in the visible spectrum adequately captures variance in melanism (60), which underpins the mimetic resemblance between Zelandoperla and Austroperla. Dry-frozen stoneflies (866 Zelandoperla, 68 Austroperla) were photographed on an 18% neutral grey reflectance standard at a standardized distance and angle. Uniform lighting was attained using a fiber optic illuminator split through two guides diffused through a polystyrene foam cylinder 60mm in diameter. Photos were taken in RAW format using a Nikon D5200 with a Nikon AF-S DX 40mm micro lens under fixed ISO sensitivity (320), aperture (f/5) and shutter speed (1/8) using automatic focus. Raw image files were subsequently normalized to the neutral grey reflectance standard and linearized using the Multispectral Image Calibration and Analysis (MICA) toolbox  and DCRAW plugins in ImageJ, generating a multispectral image file.
Color measurements were ex..., , # Data from: Human-driven evolution of insect color

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.p5hqbzkxz](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.p5hqbzkxz)

## Description of the data and file structure

### Files and variables

#### File: Mimicry\_algorithm\_robustphylocov.docx

**Description:** Code used to create a phylogenetic correlation matrix from Zelandoperla fenestrata GBS data

#### File: Mimicry\_Robustphylomatrix.xlsx

**Description:** Phylogenetic matrix based on GBS data indicated the genetic relationships among populations

##### Variables

* Each cell indicates the genetic distance between two Zelandoperla fenestrata stonefly populations. Site codes: Bj = Black Jacks, Chloris = Chloris Pass, Fg = Frasers Gully, Hf = Hoods Creek, Jim - Jimmys Creek, Kel = Kelceys Bush, Lee2a = Lee Stream, Matai = Matai Creek, Mb = MacAndrew Bay, MePass = Meyers Pass, Mim = Leith River, Mn = Maungatua, Owaka = Owaka Creek, Pass = Pass Creek, Pigroot = Pigroot Creek, Sm = Six Mile Creek, Stoney = Stoney Creek,...