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Guidetti G, Kim T, Dutcher A, Presti ML, Ovstrovsky-Snider N, Omenetto FG. Co-modulation of structural and pigmentary coloration in Lyropteryx apollonia butterfly. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:43712-43721. [PMID: 38178461 DOI: 10.1364/oe.500130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Nature produces some of the most striking optical effects through the combination of structural and chemical principles to give rise to a wide range of colors. However, creating non-spectral colors that extend beyond the color spectrum is a challenging task, as it requires meeting the requirements of both structural and pigmentary coloration. In this study, we investigate the magenta non-spectral color found in the scales of the ventral spots of the Lyropteryx apollonia butterfly. By employing correlated optical and electron microscopy, as well as pigment extraction techniques, we reveal how this color arises from the co-modulation of pigmentary and structural coloration. Specifically, the angle-dependent blue coloration results from the interference of visible light with chitin-based nanostructures, while the diffused red coloration is generated by an ommochrome pigment. The ability to produce such highly conspicuous non-spectral colors provides insights for the development of hierarchical structures with precise control over their optical response. These structures can be used to create hierarchically-arranged systems with a broadened color palette.
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Nishida K, Adachi H, Moriyama M, Futahashi R, Hanson PE, Kondo S. Butterfly wing color made of pigmented liquid. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112917. [PMID: 37537843 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
A previously undescribed mechanism underlying butterfly wing coloration patterns was discovered in two distantly related butterfly species, Siproeta stelenes and Philaethria diatonica. These butterflies have bright green wings, but the color pattern is not derived from solid pigments or nanostructures of the scales or from the color of the cuticular membrane but rather from a liquid retained in the wing membrane. Wing structure differs between the green and non-green areas. In the non-green region, the upper and lower cuticular membranes are attached to each other, whereas in the green region, we observed a space of 5-10 μm where green liquid is held and living cells are present. A pigment analysis and tracer experiment revealed that the color of the liquid is derived from hemolymph components, bilin and carotenoid pigments. This discovery broadens our understanding of the diverse ways in which butterfly wings obtain their coloration and patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Nishida
- Associate Researcher Museo de Zoología, Universidad de Costa Rica & Estación Biológica Monteverde, Apdo 22-5655, Monteverde, Costa Rica.
| | - Haruhiko Adachi
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Minoru Moriyama
- National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Central bld. 6th, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8566, Japan
| | - Ryo Futahashi
- National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Central bld. 6th, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8566, Japan
| | - Paul E Hanson
- Escuela de Biología & Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Ecología Tropical (CIBET), Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Shigeru Kondo
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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3
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Stavenga DG, Leertouwer HL, Arikawa K. Butterfly Wing Translucence Enables Enhanced Visual Signaling. INSECTS 2023; 14:234. [PMID: 36975919 PMCID: PMC10057065 DOI: 10.3390/insects14030234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The light reflected by the dorsal side of butterfly wings often functions as a signal for, e.g., mate choice, thermoregulation, and/or predator deterrence, while the ventral wing reflections are generally used for crypsis and camouflage. Here, we propose that transmitted light can also have an important role in visual signaling because, in many butterfly species, the dorsal and ventral wing sides are similarly patterned and locally more or less translucent. Extreme examples are the Japanese yellow swallowtail (Papilio xuthus Linnaeus, 1758) and the Yellow glassy tiger (Parantica aspasia Fabricius, 1787). Their wings exhibit a similar color pattern in reflected and transmitted light, which allows enhanced visual signaling, especially in flight. Contrasting cases in which the coloration and patterning of dorsal and ventral wings strongly differ are the papilionid Papilio nireus Linnaeus, 1758, and the pierid Delias nigrina Fabricius, 1775. The wings observed in reflected or transmitted light then show very different color patterns. Wing translucence thus will strongly affect a butterfly's visual signal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doekele G. Stavenga
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Science, University of Groningen, NL9747AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Heinrich L. Leertouwer
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Science, University of Groningen, NL9747AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kentaro Arikawa
- Research Center for Integrative Evolutionary Science, Sokendai-Hayama, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, Hayama 240-0193, Japan
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4
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Komata S, Kajitani R, Itoh T, Fujiwara H. Genomic architecture and functional unit of mimicry supergene in female limited Batesian mimic Papilio butterflies. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210198. [PMID: 35694751 PMCID: PMC9189499 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
It has long been suggested that dimorphic female-limited Batesian mimicry of two closely related Papilio butterflies, Papilio memnon and Papilio polytes, is controlled by supergenes. Whole-genome sequencing, genome-wide association studies and functional analyses have recently identified mimicry supergenes, including the doublesex (dsx) gene. Although supergenes of both the species are composed of highly divergent regions between mimetic and non-mimetic alleles and are located at the same chromosomal locus, they show critical differences in genomic architecture, particularly with or without an inversion: P. polytes has an inversion, but P. memnon does not. This review introduces and compares the detailed genomic structure of mimicry supergenes in two Papilio species, including gene composition, repetitive sequence composition, breakpoint/boundary site structure, chromosomal inversion and linkage disequilibrium. Expression patterns and functional analyses of the respective genes within or flanking the supergene suggest that dsx and other genes are involved in mimetic traits. In addition, structural comparison of the corresponding region for the mimicry supergene among further Papilio species suggests three scenarios for the evolution of the mimicry supergene between the two Papilio species. The structural features revealed in the Papilio mimicry supergene provide insight into the formation, maintenance and evolution of supergenes. This article is part of the theme issue 'Genomic architecture of supergenes: causes and evolutionary consequences'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinya Komata
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8562, Japan
| | - Rei Kajitani
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Takehiko Itoh
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Fujiwara
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8562, Japan
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5
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Stavenga DG. The wing scales of the mother-of-pearl butterfly, Protogoniomorpha parhassus, are thin film reflectors causing strong iridescence and polarization. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:271006. [PMID: 34291802 PMCID: PMC8353264 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.242983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The dorsal wings of the mother-of-pearl butterfly, Protogoniomorpha parhassus, display an angle-dependent pink, structural color. This effect is created by light interference in the lower lamina of the wing scales, which acts as an optical thin film. The scales feature extremely large windows that enhance the scale reflectance, because the upper lamina of ridges and cross-ribs is very sparse. Characteristic for thin film reflectors, the spectral shape of the reflected light strongly depends on the angle of light incidence, shifting from pink to yellow when changing the angles of illumination and observation from normal to skew, and also the degree of polarization strongly varies. The simultaneous spectral and polarization changes serve a possibly widespread, highly effective system among butterflies for intraspecific communication during flight. Summary: The dorsal wings of the mother-of-pearl butterfly, Protogoniomorpha parhassus, show characteristics of thin film reflectors, allowing simultaneous spectral and polarization changes, which may be important in intraspecific communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doekele G Stavenga
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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6
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Yoda S, Sakakura K, Kitamura T, KonDo Y, Sato K, Ohnuki R, Someya I, Komata S, Kojima T, Yoshioka S, Fujiwara H. Genetic switch in UV response of mimicry-related pale-yellow colors in Batesian mimic butterfly, Papilio polytes. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/2/eabd6475. [PMID: 33523992 PMCID: PMC7793577 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd6475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
In a Batesian mimic butterfly Papilio polytes, mimetic females resemble an unpalatable model, Pachliopta aristolochiae, but exhibit a different color pattern from nonmimetic females and males. In particular, the pale-yellow region on hind wings, which correspondingly sends important putative signals for mimicry and mate preference, is different in shape and chemical features between nonmimetic and mimetic morphs. Recently, we found that mimetic-type doublesex [dsx (H)] causes mimetic traits; however, the control of dimorphic pale-yellow colors remains unclear. Here, we revealed that dsx (H) switched the pale-yellow colors from UV-excited fluorescent type (nonmimetic) to UV-reflecting type (mimetic), by repressing the papiliochrome II synthesis genes and nanostructural changes in wing scales. Photoreceptor reactivities showed that some birds and butterflies could effectively recognize mimetic and nonmimetic pale-yellow colors, suggesting that a genetic switch in the UV response of pale-yellow colors may play essential roles in establishing the dimorphic female-limited Batesian mimicry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinichi Yoda
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8562, Japan
| | - Kousuke Sakakura
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8562, Japan
| | - Tasuku Kitamura
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8562, Japan
| | - Yûsuke KonDo
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8562, Japan
| | - Kazuki Sato
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda 278-8510, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Ohnuki
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda 278-8510, Japan
| | - Itsuki Someya
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8562, Japan
| | - Shinya Komata
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8562, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Kojima
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8562, Japan
| | - Shinya Yoshioka
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda 278-8510, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Fujiwara
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8562, Japan.
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7
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Pirih P, Meglič A, Stavenga D, Arikawa K, Belušič G. The red admiral butterfly's living light sensors and signals. Faraday Discuss 2020; 223:81-97. [PMID: 32760932 DOI: 10.1039/d0fd00075b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We studied the wing colouration and the compound eyes of red admiral butterflies with optical methods. We measured reflectance spectra of the wing and scales of Vanessa atalanta and modelled the thin film reflectance of the wing membrane and blue scales. We utilized the eyeshine in the compound eye of Vanessa indica to determine the spectral and polarisation characteristics of its optical sensor units, the ommatidia. Pupil responses were measured with a large-aperture optophysiological setup as reduction in the eyeshine reflection caused by monochromatic stimuli. Processing of spectral and polarisation responses of individual ommatidia revealed a random array with three types of ommatidia: about 10% contain two blue-sensitive photoreceptors, 45% have two UV-sensitive photoreceptors, and 45% have a mixed UV-blue pair. All types contain six green receptors and a basal photoreceptor. Optical modelling of the rhabdom suggests that the basal photoreceptors have a red-shifted sensitivity, which might enhance the red admiral's ability to discriminate red colours on the wing. Under daylight conditions, the red shift of the basal photoreceptor is ∼30 nm, compared to the rhodopsin spectrum template peaking at 520 nm, while the shift of green photoreceptors is ∼15 nm.
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Affiliation(s)
- PrimoŽ Pirih
- Department of Biology, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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8
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Stavenga DG, Wallace JRA, Warrant EJ. Bogong Moths Are Well Camouflaged by Effectively Decolourized Wing Scales. Front Physiol 2020; 11:95. [PMID: 32116798 PMCID: PMC7026391 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Moth wings are densely covered by wing scales that are assumed to specifically function to camouflage nocturnally active species during day time. Generally, moth wing scales are built according to the basic lepidopteran Bauplan, where the upper lamina consists of an array of parallel ridges and the lower lamina is a thin plane. The lower lamina hence acts as a thin film reflector having distinct reflectance spectra that can make the owner colorful and thus conspicuous for predators. Most moth species therefore load the scales’ upper lamina with variable amounts of melanin so that dull, brownish color patterns result. We investigated whether scale pigmentation in this manner indeed provides moths with camouflage by comparing the reflectance spectra of the wings and scales of the Australian Bogong moth (Agrotis infusa) with those of objects in their natural environment. The similarity of the spectra underscores the effective camouflaging strategies of this moth species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doekele G Stavenga
- Surfaces and Thin Films, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Jesse R A Wallace
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Eric J Warrant
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.,Lund Vision Group, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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9
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Parnell AJ, Bradford JE, Curran EV, Washington AL, Adams G, Brien MN, Burg SL, Morochz C, Fairclough JPA, Vukusic P, Martin SJ, Doak S, Nadeau NJ. Wing scale ultrastructure underlying convergent and divergent iridescent colours in mimetic Heliconius butterflies. J R Soc Interface 2019; 15:rsif.2017.0948. [PMID: 29669892 PMCID: PMC5938584 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2017.0948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Iridescence is an optical phenomenon whereby colour changes with the illumination and viewing angle. It can be produced by thin film interference or diffraction. Iridescent optical structures are fairly common in nature, but relatively little is known about their production or evolution. Here we describe the structures responsible for producing blue-green iridescent colour in Heliconius butterflies. Overall the wing scale structures of iridescent and non-iridescent Heliconius species are very similar, both having longitudinal ridges joined by cross-ribs. However, iridescent scales have ridges composed of layered lamellae, which act as multilayer reflectors. Differences in brightness between species can be explained by the extent of overlap of the lamellae and their curvature as well as the density of ridges on the scale. Heliconius are well known for their Müllerian mimicry. We find that iridescent structural colour is not closely matched between co-mimetic species. Differences appear less pronounced in models of Heliconius vision than models of avian vision, suggesting that they are not driven by selection to avoid heterospecific courtship by co-mimics. Ridge profiles appear to evolve relatively slowly, being similar between closely related taxa, while ridge density evolves faster and is similar between distantly related co-mimics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Parnell
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield, Hicks Building, Hounsfield Road, Sheffield S3 7RH, UK
| | - James E Bradford
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield, Hicks Building, Hounsfield Road, Sheffield S3 7RH, UK
| | - Emma V Curran
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Alfred Denny Building, Western bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Adam L Washington
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield, Hicks Building, Hounsfield Road, Sheffield S3 7RH, UK.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HQ, UK
| | - Gracie Adams
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Alfred Denny Building, Western bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Melanie N Brien
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Alfred Denny Building, Western bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Stephanie L Burg
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield, Hicks Building, Hounsfield Road, Sheffield S3 7RH, UK
| | | | | | - Pete Vukusic
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QL, UK
| | - Simon J Martin
- Department of Materials, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
| | - Scott Doak
- Department of Materials, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
| | - Nicola J Nadeau
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Alfred Denny Building, Western bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
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10
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Modeling the Reflectance Changes Induced by Vapor Condensation in Lycaenid Butterfly Wing Scales Colored by Photonic Nanoarchitectures. NANOMATERIALS 2019; 9:nano9050759. [PMID: 31108971 PMCID: PMC6566255 DOI: 10.3390/nano9050759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Revised: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Gas/vapor sensors based on photonic band gap-type materials are attractive as they allow a quick optical readout. The photonic nanoarchitectures responsible for the coloration of the wing scales of many butterfly species possessing structural color exhibit chemical selectivity, i.e., give vapor-specific optical response signals. Modeling this complex physical-chemical process is very important to be able to exploit the possibilities of these photonic nanoarchitectures. We performed measurements of the ethanol vapor concentration-dependent reflectance spectra of the Albulina metallica butterfly, which exhibits structural color on both the dorsal (blue) and ventral (gold-green) wing sides. Using a numerical analysis of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images, we revealed the details of the photonic nanoarchitecture inside the wing scales. On both sides, it is a 1D + 2D structure, a stack of layers, where the layers contain a quasi-ordered arrangement of air voids embedded in chitin. Next, we built a parametric simulation model that matched the measured spectra. The reflectance spectra were calculated by ab-initio methods by assuming variable amounts of vapor condensed to liquid in the air voids, as well as vapor concentration-dependent swelling of the chitin. From fitting the simulated results to the measured spectra, we found a similar swelling on both wing surfaces, but more liquid was found to concentrate in the smaller air voids for each vapor concentration value measured.
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Kilchoer C, Steiner U, Wilts BD. Thin-film structural coloration from simple fused scales in moths. Interface Focus 2018; 9:20180044. [PMID: 30603066 DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2018.0044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The metallic coloration of insects often originates from diverse nanostructures ranging from simple thin films to complex three-dimensional photonic crystals. In Lepidoptera, structural coloration is widely present and seems to be abundant in extant species. However, even some basal moths exhibit metallic coloration. Here, we have investigated the origin of the vivid metallic colours of the wing scales of the basal moth Micropterix aureatella by spectrophotometry and scanning electron microscopy. The metallic gold-, bronze- and purple-coloured scales share a similar anatomy formed of a fused lower and upper lamina resulting in a single thin film. The optical response of this thin-film scale can be attributed to thin-film interference of the incident light, resulting in the colour variations that correlate with film thickness. Subtle variations in the wing scale thickness result in large visible colour changes that give Micropterix moths their colourful wing patterns. This simple coloration mechanism could provide a hint to understand the evolution of structural coloration in Lepidoptera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cédric Kilchoer
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Ullrich Steiner
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Bodo D Wilts
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
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12
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Bálint Z, Sáfián S, Hoskins A, Kertész K, Koós AA, Horváth ZE, Piszter G, Biró LP. The Only Blue Mimeresia (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Lipteninae) Uses a Color-Generating Mechanism Widely Applied by Butterflies. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2018; 18:5001952. [PMID: 29846620 PMCID: PMC6007625 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iey046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2018] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The butterfly Mimeresia neavei (Joicey & Talbot, 1921) is the only species in the exclusively African subtribal clade Mimacraeina (Lipteninae: Lycaenidae: Lepidoptera) having sexual dimorphism expressed by structurally blue-colored male and pigmentary colored orange-red female phenotypes. We investigated the optical mechanism generating the male blue color by various microscopic and experimental methods. It was found that the blue color is produced by the lower lamina of the scale acting as a thin film. This kind of color production is not rare in day-flying Lepidoptera, or in other insect orders. The biological role of the blue color of M. neavei is not yet well understood, as all the other species in the clade lack structural coloration, and have less pronounced sexual dimorphism, and are involved in mimicry-rings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsolt Bálint
- Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Szabolcs Sáfián
- Faculty of Forestry, University of West Hungary, Sopron, Hungary
| | | | - Krisztián Kertész
- Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science, Centre for Energy Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Antal Adolf Koós
- Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science, Centre for Energy Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Endre Horváth
- Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science, Centre for Energy Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gábor Piszter
- Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science, Centre for Energy Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | - László Péter Biró
- Institute of Technical Physics and Materials Science, Centre for Energy Research, Budapest, Hungary
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13
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Wilts BD, Giraldo MA, Stavenga DG. Unique wing scale photonics of male Rajah Brooke's birdwing butterflies. Front Zool 2016; 13:36. [PMID: 27525030 PMCID: PMC4983073 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-016-0168-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ultrastructures in butterfly wing scales can take many shapes, resulting in the often striking coloration of many butterflies due to interference of light. The plethora of coloration mechanisms is dazzling, but often only single mechanisms are described for specific animals. Results We have here investigated the male Rajah Brooke’s birdwing, Trogonoptera brookiana, a large butterfly from Malaysia, which is marked by striking, colorful wing patterns. The dorsal side is decorated with large, iridescent green patterning, while the ventral side of the wings is primarily brown-black with small white, blue and green patches on the hindwings. Dense arrays of red hairs, creating a distinct collar as well as contrasting areas ventrally around the thorax, enhance the butterfly’s beauty. The remarkable coloration is realized by a diverse number of intricate and complicated nanostructures in the hairs as well as the wing scales. The red collar hairs contain a broad-band absorbing pigment as well as UV-reflecting multilayers resembling the photonic structures of Morpho butterflies; the white wing patches consist of scales with prominent thin film reflectors; the blue patches have scales with ridge multilayers and these scales also have centrally concentrated melanin. The green wing areas consist of strongly curved scales, which possess a uniquely arranged photonic structure consisting of multilayers and melanin baffles that produces highly directional reflections. Conclusion Rajah Brooke’s birdwing employs a variety of structural and pigmentary coloration mechanisms to achieve its stunning optical appearance. The intriguing usage of order and disorder in related photonic structures in the butterfly wing scales may inspire novel optical materials as well as investigations into the development of these nanostructures in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bodo D Wilts
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Marco A Giraldo
- Biophysics Group, Institute of Physics, University of Antioquia, Calle 70 No. 52-21, A.A.1226, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Doekele G Stavenga
- Computational Physics, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, NL-9747AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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14
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Abstract
A new open-access journal, Zoological Letters, was launched as a sister journal to Zoological Science, in January 2015. The new journal aims at publishing topical papers of high quality from a wide range of basic zoological research fields. This review highlights the notable reviews and research articles that have been published in the first year of Zoological Letters, providing an overview on the current achievements and future directions of the journal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takema Fukatsu
- 1 National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba 305-8566, Japan
| | - Shigeru Kuratani
- 2 Laboratory for Evolutionary Morphology, RIKEN, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
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Fukatsu T. Entomological journals and publishing in Japan. APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY AND ZOOLOGY 2016; 51:1-10. [PMID: 26869722 PMCID: PMC4737799 DOI: 10.1007/s13355-015-0386-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Accepted: 11/28/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Here I present an overview of entomological journals and publishing in Japan, thereby providing a convenient portal to the valuable scientific resources for the world's entomological researchers and scientific communities. Currently, except for several international journals published fully in English such as Applied Entomology and Zoology and Entomological Science, many entomological and entomology-related journals in Japan are not indexed by major scientific databases like Web of Science, and therefore they are neither conveniently recognizable nor accessible for the world's entomological communities. However, I point out that many of the contents of such journals are freely available via Japan's public platforms for electronic scientific literature, Japan Science and Technology Information Aggregator, Electronic (J-stage) or Citation Information by National Institute of Informatics (CiNii). Here I list 32 entomological and entomology-related societies and their 45 journals, the majority of which belong to either the Union of Japanese Societies for Insect Sciences (UJSIS), the Union of the Japanese Societies for Systematic Biology (UJSSB), the Union of Japanese Societies for Natural History (UJSNH), or the Union of Japanese Societies for Biological Science (UJSBS), with their respective URL and open-access availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takema Fukatsu
- />Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, 305-8566 Japan
- />Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033 Japan
- />Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, 305-8572 Japan
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Wilts BD, Matsushita A, Arikawa K, Stavenga DG. Spectrally tuned structural and pigmentary coloration of birdwing butterfly wing scales. J R Soc Interface 2015; 12:20150717. [PMID: 26446560 PMCID: PMC4614508 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2015.0717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2015] [Accepted: 09/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The colourful wing patterns of butterflies play an important role for enhancing fitness; for instance, by providing camouflage, for interspecific mate recognition, or for aposematic display. Closely related butterfly species can have dramatically different wing patterns. The phenomenon is assumed to be caused by ecological processes with changing conditions, e.g. in the environment, and also by sexual selection. Here, we investigate the birdwing butterflies, Ornithoptera, the largest butterflies of the world, together forming a small genus in the butterfly family Papilionidae. The wings of these butterflies are marked by strongly coloured patches. The colours are caused by specially structured wing scales, which act as a chirped multilayer reflector, but the scales also contain papiliochrome pigments, which act as a spectral filter. The combined structural and pigmentary effects tune the coloration of the wing scales. The tuned colours are presumably important for mate recognition and signalling. By applying electron microscopy, (micro-)spectrophotometry and scatterometry we found that the various mechanisms of scale coloration of the different birdwing species strongly correlate with the taxonomical distribution of Ornithoptera species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bodo D Wilts
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland Computational Physics, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Atsuko Matsushita
- Laboratory of Neuroethology, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Hayama, Japan
| | - Kentaro Arikawa
- Laboratory of Neuroethology, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Hayama, Japan
| | - Doekele G Stavenga
- Computational Physics, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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