Nanomorphology of the blue iridescent wings of a giant tropical wasp Megascolia procer javanensis (Hymenoptera).
The wings of the giant wasp Megascolia procer javanensis are opaque and iridescent. The origin of the blue-green iridescence is studied in detail, using reflection spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and physical modeling. It is shown that the structure responsible for the iridescence is a single homogeneous transparent chitin layer covering the whole surface of each wing. The opacity is essentially due to the presence of melanin in the stratified medium which forms the mechanical core of the wing.
Sarrazin
Michaël
M
Laboratoire de Physique du Solide, Facultés Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix, rue de Bruxelles, 61, B-5000 Namur, Belgium. michael.sarrazin@fundp.ac.be
Vigneron
Jean Pol
JP
Welch
Victoria
V
Rassart
Marie
M
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002686:Chitin / Q000032:analysis; D001517:Coleoptera; D003116:Color; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D007814:Larva; D008297:Male; D008543:Melanins / Q000032:analysis; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D010858:Pigmentation; D014329:Tropical Climate; D014863:Wasps / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*
D019476:Insect Proteins; D008543:Melanins; C047663:cuticle proteins, insects; D002686:Chitin