Butterfly wings display rich phenotypic diversity and are associated with complex biological functions, thus serving as an important evolutionary system to address the genetic basis and evolution of phenotypic diversification. We review recent butterfly studies that revealed complex functions underlying diversified wing patterns and describe the genetic and environmental factors involved in wing pattern determinations. These factors lead to inter-specific divergence, genetic polymorphism, and phenotypic plasticity, which in many cases are decided by several key genes. We also summarize the research advances on gene co-option as an important origin of functional complexity and evolutionary novelty. These findings reveal a pattern of evolutionary innovation within a constrained developmental framework during butterfly wing morphogenesis, but further research is required to gain a systematic and comprehensive understanding.

蝴蝶翅膀表现出丰富的表型多样性，并与复杂的生物学功能相关，因此是解决表型多样化的遗传基础和进化的重要进化系统。我们回顾了最近的蝴蝶研究，这些研究揭示了多样化翅膀图案背后的复杂功能，并描述了翅膀图案决定所涉及的遗传和环境因素。这些因素导致种间分化、遗传多态性和表型可塑性，而这些在许多情况下是由几个关键基因决定的。我们还总结了基因共选作为功能复杂性和进化新颖性的重要起源的研究进展。这些发现揭示了蝴蝶翅膀形态发生过程中受限制的发育框架内的进化创新模式，但需要进一步的研究来获得系统和全面的理解。