Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T19:59:01.006Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Shine and Hide: Biological Photonic Crystals on the Wings of Weevils

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2013

Bodo D. Wilts ,
Natasja IJbema ,
Kristel Michielsen ,
Hans De Raedt  and
Doekele G. Stavenga
Bodo D. Wilts
Affiliation:
Computational Physics, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, NL-9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands, EU
Natasja IJbema
Affiliation:
Computational Physics, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, NL-9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands, EU
Kristel Michielsen
Affiliation:
Institute for Advanced Simulation, Jülich Supercomputing Centre, Research Centre Jülich, D-52425 Jülich, Germany, EU
Hans De Raedt
Affiliation:
Computational Physics, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, NL-9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands, EU
Doekele G. Stavenga
Affiliation:
Computational Physics, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, NL-9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands, EU
Get access

Abstract

The body and elytra of the diamond weevil, Entimus imperialis, is studded with numerous brightly colored scales. The scales exhibit brilliant reflections because they contain unusually large diamond-type photonic crystals. The scales are concentrated in pits on the otherwise black elytra. This framing enhances the color contrast when the weevil is observed from nearby. From a distance the diamond weevil looks green, alike green foliage. Another weevil, Eupholus cuvieri, has also scales with green reflective photonic crystals, but here the scales are arranged closely apposed on the planar elytra. Both weevils use photonic crystals for camouflage, but the display methods are different.

Keywords

biologicalbiomaterialoptical properties
Type
Articles
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1504: Symposium V – Geometry and Topology of Biomolecular and Functional Nanomaterials , 2013 , mrsf12-1504-v08-03
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2013

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Joannopoulos, J. D., Photonic crystals: molding the flow of light (Princeton University Press, 2008).Google Scholar
Biró, L. P. and Vigneron, J., “Photonic nanoarchitectures in butterflies and beetles: valuable sources for bioinspiration,” Laser Photon. Rev. 5, 27–51 (2011).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Michielsen, K. and Stavenga, D. G., “Gyroid cuticular structures in butterfly wing scales: biological photonic crystals,” J. R. Soc. Interface 5, 85–94 (2008).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vukusic, P. and Sambles, J. R., “Photonic structures in biology,” Nature 424, 852–855 (2003).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Leertouwer, H. L., Wilts, B. D., and Stavenga, D. G., “Refractive index and dispersion of butterfly chitin and bird keratin measured by polarizing interference microscopy,” Opt. Express 19, 24061–24066 (2011).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wilts, B. D., Michielsen, K., De Raedt, H., and Stavenga, D. G., “Hemispherical Brillouin zone imaging of a diamond-type biological photonic crystal,” J. R. Soc. Interface 9, 1609–1614 (2012).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Galusha, J. W., Richey, L. R., Gardner, J. S., Cha, J. N., and Bartl, M. H., “Discovery of a diamond-based photonic crystal structure in beetle scales,” Phys. Rev. E 77, 050904 (2008).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Seago, A. E., Brady, P., Vigneron, J. P., and Schultz, T. D., “Gold bugs and beyond: a review of iridescence and structural colour mechanisms in beetles (Coleoptera),” J. R. Soc. Interface 6 Suppl 2, S165–84 (2009).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sharma, V., Crne, M., Park, J. O., and Srinivasarao, M., “Structural origin of circularly polarized iridescence in jeweled beetles,” Science 325, 449–451 (2009).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Maldovan, M. and Thomas, E. L., “Diamond-structured photonic crystals,” Nat. Mater. 3, 593–600 (2004).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Galusha, J. W., Jorgensen, M. R., and Bartl, M. H., “Diamond-structured titania photonic-bandgap crystals from biological templates,” Adv. Mater. 22, 107–110 (2010).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wilts, B. D., Michielsen, K., Kuipers, J., De Raedt, H., and Stavenga, D. G., “ Brilliant camouflage: photonic crystals in the diamond weevil, Entimus imperialis ,” Proc. R. Soc. B 279, 2524–2530 (2012).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stavenga, D. G., Leertouwer, H. L., Pirih, P., and Wehling, M. F., “Imaging scatterometry of butterfly wing scales,” Opt. Express 17, 193–202 (2009).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed