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First published online June 12, 2009
Journal of Experimental Biology 212, 2057-2064 (2009)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2009
doi: 10.1242/jeb.030692

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Rhabdom constriction enhances filtering by the red screening pigment in the eye of the Eastern Pale Clouded yellow butterfly, Colias erate (Pieridae)

Kentaro Arikawa^1,*, Primoz Pirih² and Doekele G. Stavenga²

¹ Laboratory of Neuroethology, Sokendai-Hayama, Hayama Center for Advanced Studies, Hayama, Japan
² Department of Neurobiophysics, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

^* Author for correspondence (e-mail: arikawa{at}soken.ac.jp)

Accepted 1 April 2009

Here we report the remarkable anatomy of the eye of the Eastern Pale Clouded yellow butterfly, Colias erate. An ommatidium of C. erate bears nine photoreceptors, R1–9, which together form a tiered and fused rhabdom. The distal tier of the rhabdom consists of the rhabdomeral microvilli of R1–4 photoreceptors, R5–8 photoreceptors contribute the proximal tier, and the R9 photoreceptor adds a few microvilli at the base. In transverse sections, four spots of red pigment surrounding the rhabdom are evident in the ventral region of the eye. The red pigment acts as a strong red filter for the proximal photoreceptors. The arrangement of the pigment spots distinguishes the ommatidia into three types: trapezoidal (type I), square (type II) and rectangular (type III). In all types of ommatidia, the distal and the proximal tiers of the rhabdom are divided by a strong constriction, clearly to enhance the filtering effect of the red pigment. The ommatidial heterogeneity can also be observed by optical measurements. The eye shine, resulting from tapetal reflections, peaks in type I ommatidia at 660 nm, and in type II and III ommatidia at 730 nm. The far-red-peaking eye shine indicates that C. erate has far-red-sensitive photoreceptors. Type I ommatidia fluoresce under violet excitation, implying the presence of a violet-absorbing pigment that acts as a short-wavelength filter.

Key words: insect vision, compound eyes, eye shine, spectral heterogeneity

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