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Monthly Archives: July 2016
From Food to Art
Sculpture Jan Fabre incorporates Jewel Beetles into many of his works of art such as the globe pictured at left. Jewel Beetles have a captivating iridescence that adds color and sparkle. The color is not constant but changes with the … Continue reading
Living With Blackness
The bright colors of some insects are often the ones that capture our attention. Black can be dull and overlooked. However, black can be a sign of important biological processes. The color we see as black is caused by the … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
1 Comment
Butterfly Bright Idea
The swallowtail butterfly, Papilio nireus, has a beautiful green fluorescent wing band. The wing fluoresces at a wavelength that is in tune with the principle light receptor pigment in the compound eyes of adult butterflies. Producing an intense fluorescence is key to … Continue reading
Posted in Biomaterials, by jjneal
1 Comment
Living With Black Scales
Butterflies typically produce black wings using the pigment melanin. The melanin is incorporated into the cuticle secreted to form the scale. Scales are not solid structures; they have nano-structure. Scales have airspaces, and internal features such as ridges and spikes … Continue reading
Posted in Biomaterials, by jjneal
1 Comment
The Original Impressionists
The wings of butterflies, like the wings of flies and bees are clear. The chitin/protein composite secreted to make the wing membrane is transparent. The color of butterfly wings is due entirely to the presence of scales. Rub the scales … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
1 Comment
Living With Scales
The wings of butterflies and moths are covered with scales. Scales are modified hairs. A hair is formed by a hair cell that secretes a linear strand of cuticle. Scales form when secreted cuticle instead of growing as a linear … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
1 Comment
Butterflies: Billboards With A Fixed Message
Butterflies use their wings as colorful billboards to communicate to other animals. Aposematic colors may say, “I am toxic.”. Cryptic colors may say, “I am not a butterfly, I am a dead leaf.” A mimic may use color to say, … Continue reading
Posted in by jjneal, communication, Taxonomy
1 Comment
