QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s):
Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Parker, A. R. Articles by Large, MCJ. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Parker, A. R. Articles by Large, MCJ. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

The Journal of Experimental Biology 201, 1307-1313 (1998)

Journal Articles

Multilayer reflectors in animals using green and gold beetles as contrasting examples

A. R. Parker, D. R. Mckenzie and MCJ. Large

Summary

The light reflectors in the beetles Calloodes grayanus and Anoplognathus parvulus are examined. Contrasting multilayer reflectors are revealed. Calloodes grayanus appears a weak green colour, matching its background leaves, while A. parvulus is strongly metallic-gold coloured. The former reflection is diffuse, as the result of a structure causing scattering that overlies the multilayer reflector, whereas the latter reflection is strongly directional. The green colour of C. grayanus is achieved by a multilayer reflector with a fixed spatial periodicity, here termed 'regular', which is far removed from the quarterwave, or physically 'ideal', condition. The gold colour of A. parvulus is achieved by a type of reflector which involves systematically changing optical thicknesses of the component layers with depth in the structure. A layer of melanin underlies the reflector of C. grayanus to absorb the transmitted portion of light and prevent its back-reflectance, which would otherwise alter the green colour. The resultant structural reflectance from C. grayanus effectively matches green pigments, which are rare in beetles.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. R Parker Natural photonics for industrial inspiration Phil Trans R Soc A, May 13, 2009; 367(1894): 1759 - 1782. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P Vukusic, R Kelly, and I Hooper A biological sub-micron thickness optical broadband reflector characterized using both light and microwaves J R Soc Interface, April 6, 2009; 6(Suppl_2): S193 - S201. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. E Seago, P. Brady, J.-P. Vigneron, and T. D Schultz Gold bugs and beyond: a review of iridescence and structural colour mechanisms in beetles (Coleoptera) J R Soc Interface, April 6, 2009; 6(Suppl_2): S165 - S184. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. D Shawkey, V. Saranathan, H. Palsdottir, J. Crum, M. H Ellisman, M. Auer, and R. O Prum Electron tomography, three-dimensional Fourier analysis and colour prediction of a three-dimensional amorphous biophotonic nanostructure J R Soc Interface, April 6, 2009; 6(Suppl_2): S213 - S220. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. D Shawkey, N. I Morehouse, and P. Vukusic A protean palette: colour materials and mixing in birds and butterflies J R Soc Interface, April 6, 2009; 6(Suppl_2): S221 - S231. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K Michielsen and D.G Stavenga Gyroid cuticular structures in butterfly wing scales: biological photonic crystals J R Soc Interface, January 6, 2008; 5(18): 85 - 94. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R.L Rutowski, J.M Macedonia, N Morehouse, and L Taylor-Taft Pterin pigments amplify iridescent ultraviolet signal in males of the orange sulphur butterfly, Colias eurytheme Proc R Soc B, November 7, 2005; 272(1578): 2329 - 2335. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. R. Parker A geological history of reflecting optics J R Soc Interface, March 22, 2005; 2(2): 1 - 17. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]