Thermal flexibility and a generalist life history promote urban affinity in butterflies

Urban expansion poses a serious threat to biodiversity. Given that the expected area of urban land cover is predicted to increase by 2–3 million km 2 by 2050, urban environments are one of the most widespread human‐dominated land‐uses affecting biodiversity. Responses to urbanization differ greatly among species. Some species are unable to tolerate urban environments (i.e., urban avoiders), others are able to adapt and use areas with moderate...