Structurally assisted blackness in butterfly scales

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
Pete VukusicC R Lawrence

Abstract

Surfaces of low reflectance are ubiquitous in animate systems. They form essential components of the visual appearance of most living species and can explicitly influence other biological functions such as thermoregulation. The blackness associated with all opaque surfaces of low reflectivity has until now been attributed to strongly absorbing pigmentation alone. Our present study challenges this assumption, demonstrating that in addition to the requirement of absorbing pigmentation, complex nano-structures contribute to the low reflectance of certain natural surfaces. We describe preliminary findings of an investigation into the nature of the black regions observed on the dorsal wings of several Lepidoptera. Specifically, we quantify the optical absorption associated with black wing regions on the butterfly Papilio ulysses and find that the nanostructure of the wing scales of these regions contributes significantly to their black appearance.

References

Jan 1, 1969·Journal of Ultrastructure Research·A R Spurr

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Mar 27, 2009·Die Naturwissenschaften·Pablo Perez GoodwynKenji Fujisaki
Jan 15, 2009·Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·Matthew D ShawkeyPeter Vukusic
Mar 12, 2008·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·A L Ingram, A R Parker
Oct 5, 2010·Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics : the Journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists)·Pete Vukusic
Jan 31, 2014·Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·Leila F DeraviKevin Kit Parker
Nov 14, 2013·Scientific Reports·N MattiucciG D'Aguanno
Aug 16, 2014·Scientific Reports·Matteo BurresiSilvia Vignolini
Jul 29, 2011·Scanning·Stuart A BodenDarren M Bagnall
Mar 7, 2012·Microscopy Research and Technique·Srećko B ĆurčićDejan V Stojanović
Jun 13, 2006·Vision Research·Alessia CorreaniUte Leonards
Nov 29, 2016·Arthropod Structure & Development·Doris L MaurerMichael J Gebhardt
Oct 22, 2009·Applied Optics·Mikkel BrydegaardSune Svanberg
Dec 17, 2017·Scientific Reports·Gordon ZylaStanislav Gorb
Jan 11, 2018·Nature Communications·Dakota E McCoyRichard O Prum
Oct 22, 2014·Advanced Materials·Jiajun GuDi Zhang
May 21, 2019·Developmental Dynamics : an Official Publication of the American Association of Anatomists·Christopher R DayArnaud Martin
May 16, 2019·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Dakota E McCoyDavid Haig
Oct 24, 2017·Science Advances·Radwanul H SiddiqueHendrik Hölscher
Feb 8, 2020·Biomimetics·Sigrid ZoblThorsten Schwerte
Jul 21, 2020·Advanced Materials·Shuliang DouYao Li
Sep 29, 2019·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Dakota E McCoy, Richard O Prum
Jan 25, 2020·PeerJ·Victoria L Wong, Paul E Marek
Jan 29, 2013·Advanced Materials·Mathias KollePeter Vukusic
May 8, 2018·Advanced Materials·Eric S A GoerlitzerNicolas Vogel
May 24, 2017·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Matthew D Shawkey, Liliana D'Alba
Oct 24, 2017·Advanced Materials·Mathias Kolle, Seungwoo Lee
Feb 7, 2021·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Marjorie A LiénardNaomi E Pierce
Mar 18, 2021·Optics Express·Shih-Wen ChenThomas Chung-Kuang Yang

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.