Fine structures of wing scales in Sasakia charonda butterflies as photonic crystals

0333871 - ÚPT 2010 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Matějková, Jiřina - Shiojiri, S. - Shiojiri, M.
Fine structures of wing scales in Sasakia charonda butterflies as photonic crystals.
Journal of Microscopy. Roč. 236, č. 2 (2009), s. 88-93. ISSN 0022-2720. E-ISSN 1365-2818
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z20650511
Keywords : Butterfly * field-emission scanning electron microscopy * photonic crystal * Sasakia charonda * wing scale
Subject RIV: BM - Solid Matter Physics ; Magnetism
Impact factor: 1.612, year: 2009

P>We investigate the microstructure of scales in the wings of male Sasakia charonda charonda butterflies by scanning electron microscopy with the aid of optical microscopy. Six types of scales are identified: B1, W1 and R1 in brown background yellow spots and red spots, respectively; B2 in iridescent purple-blue and W2 in white pearl, both of which characterize the male and B3 in the wing edges. The B1, W1 and R1 scales are almost the same in structure and the B2 and W2 scales are almost the same. The difference among the B, W and R scales is in species and content of pigment. The B1, W1 and R1 scales have only two layers of cuticle lapped on the ridges. In contrast with them, the B2 and W2 scales have seven multilayers of cuticle piled on the ridge. The multiple interference of light that occurs among these cuticle layers, spaced with air layers, generates the significant iridescence of the B2 and W2 scales.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0178752