Department of Neurobiophysics, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.
J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol. 2011 Oct;197(10):987-97. doi: 10.1007/s00359-011-0661-6. Epub 2011 Jul 9.
The males of many pierid butterflies have iridescent wings, which presumably function in intraspecific communication. The iridescence is due to nanostructured ridges of the cover scales. We have studied the iridescence in the males of a few members of Coliadinae, Gonepteryx aspasia, G. cleopatra, G. rhamni, and Colias croceus, and in two members of the Colotis group, Hebomoia glaucippe and Colotis regina. Imaging scatterometry demonstrated that the pigmentary colouration is diffuse whereas the structural colouration creates a directional, line-shaped far-field radiation pattern. Angle-dependent reflectance measurements demonstrated that the directional iridescence distinctly varies among closely related species. The species-dependent scale curvature determines the spatial properties of the wing iridescence. Narrow beam illumination of flat scales results in a narrow far-field iridescence pattern, but curved scales produce broadened patterns. The restricted spatial visibility of iridescence presumably plays a role in intraspecific signalling.
许多凤蝶属的雄性蝴蝶拥有虹彩翅膀，这可能在种内交流中发挥作用。虹彩是由于覆盖鳞片的纳米结构脊而产生的。我们研究了 Coliadinae 属的一些成员，如 Aspasia 凤蝶、Cleopatra 凤蝶、Rhamni 凤蝶和 Colias croceus 雄蝶，以及 Hebomoia glaucippe 和 Colotis regina 两个 Colotis 组成员的虹彩。成像散射测量表明，色素着色是漫反射的，而结构色则产生定向的线状远场辐射图案。角度依赖的反射率测量表明，定向虹彩在密切相关的物种之间明显不同。物种相关的鳞片曲率决定了翅膀虹彩的空间特性。窄光束照射扁平鳞片会产生狭窄的远场虹彩图案，但弯曲的鳞片会产生变宽的图案。虹彩的有限空间可见度可能在种内信号中发挥作用。
