title: Fine structure of wing scales of butterflies, Euploea mulciber and Troides aeacus.
abstract: Wing scales of male Euploea mulciber (E. mulciber) and Troides aeacus (T. aeacus) butterflies were investigated from interest in photonic crystal by scanning electron microscopy and optical reflectance measurement. On the basis of the structural observation, the colouration in different areas in their wings was discussed. It was particularly deduced that a violet-green iridescence characteristic of E. mulciber's forewing is caused only in a wavelength range from ∼380 to ∼510nm by multiple interference from a highly tilted, triple-layered cuticle arrangement on the brown scales. It was also found that T. aeacus does not produce a blue-green sheen such as observed by Troides magellanus because its scales have no multiple cuticle layers but microrib layers unable to produce any backscattering diffraction.
authors.affiliation: Bioresources and Biodiversity Section, Central Laboratory and Greenhouse Complex, Kasetsart University, Kamphaengsaen Campus, Nakhonpathom 73140, Thailand.
authors.forename: Punyavee
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dechkrong
authors.forename: Suratwadee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jiwajinda
authors.forename: Paradorn
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dokchan
authors.forename: Mongkol
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kongtungmon
authors.forename: Natthaphol
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chomsaeng
authors.forename: Torranin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chairuangsri
authors.forename: Chih-Chieh
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Chien-Nan
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shiojiri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002080:Butterflies / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012031:Refractometry; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013499:Surface Properties; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*