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Reflection Measurements Used In The Analysis Of Structural Colours Of Beetles
Author(s) -
Mossakowski Dietrich
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
journal of microscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0022-2720
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2818.1979.tb00220.x
Subject(s) - reflectivity , reflection (computer programming) , cuticle (hair) , interference (communication) , optics , point (geometry) , ideal (ethics) , materials science , biology , biological system , physics , paleontology , geometry , mathematics , computer science , computer network , channel (broadcasting) , programming language , philosophy , epistemology
SUMMARY Reflectance measurements have been carried out on the elytral cuticle of two beetles. Great differences arise in the tiger beetle Cicindela campestris depending on the extremely structured surface and colour variation from point to point. In comparison the buprestid beetle Chrysochroa vittata appears more even. Indeed macroscopically it looks completely smooth, but there are microscopical structures complicating reflection measurements. The advantages and disadvantages of working with a macro‐ and a microspectrophotometer are listed. The structural properties of the colour producing multilayer system are the same in both species. Measured spectral reflectance curves show the typical form of interference colours. A second order reflectance maximum in the UV region was found. Calculations of the reflectance curves were done by the equations given by Huxley for the non‐ideal type of multilayer reflectors.