Journal Article

PreJuSER-20254

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Brilliant camouflage: photonic crystals in the diamond weevil, Entimus imperialis

Wilts, B. D. ; Michielsen, K.FZJ* ; Kuipers, J. ; De Raedt, H. ; Stavenga, D. G.

2012
The Royal Society London

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1098/rspb.2011.2651

Abstract: The neotropical diamond weevil, Entimus imperialis, is marked by rows of brilliant spots on the overall black elytra. The spots are concave pits with intricate patterns of structural-coloured scales, consisting of large domains of three-dimensional photonic crystals that have a diamond-type structure. Reflectance spectra measured from individual scale domains perfectly match model spectra, calculated with anatomical data and finite-difference time-domain methods. The reflections of single domains are extremely directional (observed with a point source less than 5°), but the special arrangement of the scales in the concave pits significantly broadens the angular distribution of the reflections. The resulting virtually angle-independent green coloration of the weevil closely approximates the colour of a foliaceous background. While the close-distance colourful shininess of E. imperialis may facilitate intersexual recognition, the diffuse green reflectance of the elytra when seen at long-distance provides cryptic camouflage.

Keyword(s): Animals (MeSH) ; Beetles: chemistry (MeSH) ; Beetles: physiology (MeSH) ; Beetles: ultrastructure (MeSH) ; Behavior, Animal (MeSH) ; Computer Simulation (MeSH) ; Crystallization (MeSH) ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission (MeSH) ; Photons (MeSH) ; Pigmentation (MeSH) ; Refractometry (MeSH) ; Wing: chemistry (MeSH) ; Wing: ultrastructure (MeSH) ; J ; structural colour (auto) ; photonic bandgap materials (auto) ; scatterometry (auto) ; diffuse reflection (auto) ; communication (auto)

Note: We thank H. L. Leertouwer and A. J. M. Vey for collaboration and P. Vukusic for reading an early version of this manuscript. This study was financially supported by AFOSR/EOARD (grant FA8655-08-1-3012) and NCF, The Netherlands.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC)

Research Program(s):

1. Scientific Computing (FUEK411) (FUEK411)
2. 411 - Computational Science and Mathematical Methods (POF2-411) (POF2-411)

Appears in the scientific report 2012

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Database coverage:
; BIOSIS Previews ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; JCR ; NCBI Molecular Biology Database ; National-Konsortium ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Thomson Reuters Master Journal List ; Web of Science Core Collection ; Zoological Record

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