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Wing scale microstructures and nanostructures in butterflies − natural photonic crystals
Author(s) -
VÉRTESY Z.,
BÁLINT Zs.,
KERTÉSZ K.,
VIGNERON J. P.,
LOUSSE V.,
BIRÓ L. P.
Publication year - 2006
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.1365-2818.2006.01678.x
Subject(s) - structural coloration , nanostructure , butterfly , microstructure , hue , transmission electron microscopy , lycaenidae , scanning electron microscope , materials science , microscopy , lepidoptera genitalia , optics , nanotechnology , photonic crystal , biology , optoelectronics , physics , botany , composite material , ecology
Summary The aim of our study was to investigate the correlation between structural colour and scale morphology in butterflies. Detailed correlations between blue colour and structure were investigated in three lycaenid subfamilies, which represent a monophylum in the butterfly family Lycaenidae (Lepidoptera): the Coppers (Lycaeninae), the Hairstreaks (Theclinae) and the Blues (Polyommatinae). Complex investigations such as spectral measurements and characterization by means of light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy enabled us to demonstrate that: (i) a wide array of nanostructures generate blue colours; (ii) monophyletic groups use qualitatively similar structures; and (iii) the hue of the blue colour is characteristic for the microstructure and nanostructure of the body of the scales.