We describe an imaging scatterometer allowing hemispherical reflectance measurements as a function of the angle incidence. The heart is ellipsoidal reflector, which compresses reflection into cone-shaped beam that can be imaged by normal optical system. instrument's performance illustrated scattering profiles blue-iridescent dorsal wing scales nymphalid Morpho aega and matte-green ventral lycaenid Callophrys rubi.

The ventral compound eye of many insects contains polarization-sensitive photoreceptors, but little is known about how they are integrated into visual functions. In female horseflies, polarized reflections from animal fur a key stimulus for host detection. To understand polarization vision mediated by the eye, we investigated band-eyed brown horsefly Tabanus bromius using anatomical, physiological, and behavioral approaches. Serial electron microscopic sectioning retina single-cell...

Hearing relies on faithful synaptic transmission at the ribbon synapse of cochlear inner hair cells (IHCs). Postsynaptic recordings from this in prehearing animals had delivered strong indications for synchronized release several vesicles. The underlying mechanism, however, remains unclear. Here, we used presynaptic membrane capacitance measurements to test whether IHCs vesicles a statistically independent or dependent (coordinated) manner. Exocytic changes (Δ C m ) were repeatedly...

Abstract Optical experiments often require fast-switching light sources with adjustable bandwidths and intensities. We constructed a wavelength combiner based on reflective planar diffraction grating emitting diodes emission peaks from 350 to 630 nm that were positioned at the angles corresponding first order of reversed beam. The combined output beam was launched into fibre. spacing between 22 equally wide spectral bands about 15 nm. time resolution pulse-width modulation drivers 1 ms....

The scales of the gold-dust weevil Hypomeces squamosus are green because three-dimensional diamond-type chitin–air photonic crystals with an average periodicity about 430 nm and a chitin fill fraction 0.44. A single scale usually contains one to three crystallites different lattice orientations. reciprocal space images reflection spectra obtained from domains indicated partial bandgap in wavelength range 450 650 nm. Light reflected {111}-oriented is green-yellow. blue, {100}-oriented...

The wings of most pierid butterflies exhibit a main, pigmentary colouration: white, yellow or orange. males many species have in restricted areas the wing upper sides distinct structural colouration, which is created by stacks lamellae ridges scales, resulting iridescence. amplitude reflectance proportional to number ridge stacks. angle-dependent peak wavelength observed iridescence agreement with classical multilayer theory. virtually always ultraviolet range, but some blue-peaking spectral...

In many butterflies, the ancestral trichromatic insect colour vision, based on UV-, blue- and green-sensitive photoreceptors, is extended with red-sensitive cells. Physiological evidence for red receptors has been missing in nymphalid although some species can discriminate hues well. eight from genera Archaeoprepona, Argynnis, Charaxes, Danaus, Melitaea, Morpho, Heliconius Speyeria , we found a novel class of photoreceptors that have hyperpolarizing responses to stimulation light. These...

The angled sunbeam butterfly, Curetis acuta (Lycaenidae), is a distinctly sexually dimorphic lycaenid butterfly from Asia. dorsal wings of female and male butterflies have similar pattern, with large white area in the an orange male, framed within brown–black margins. ventral both sexes are silvery white, which caused by stacks overlapping, non-pigmented, specular-reflecting scales. With oblique illumination, reflected light strongly polarized. We show that reflection facilitates camouflage...

The males of many pierid butterflies have iridescent wings, which presumably function in intraspecific communication. iridescence is due to nanostructured ridges the cover scales. We studied a few members Coliadinae, Gonepteryx aspasia, G. cleopatra, rhamni, and Colias croceus, two Colotis group, Hebomoia glaucippe regina. Imaging scatterometry demonstrated that pigmentary colouration diffuse whereas structural creates directional, line-shaped far-field radiation pattern. Angle-dependent...

We studied the spectral and polarisation sensitivities of photoreceptors butterfly Colias erate by using intracellular electrophysiological recordings stimulation with light pulses. developed a method response waveform comparison (RWC) for evaluating effective intensity identified one UV, four violet-blue, two green red photoreceptor classes. estimated peak wavelengths rhodopsins to be at about 360, 420, 460 560 nm. The violet-blue classes are presumably based on combinations...

The owlfly Libelloides macaronius (Insecta: Neuroptera) has large bipartite eyes of the superposition type. spatial resolution and sensitivity photoreceptor array in dorsofrontal eye part was studied with optical electrophysiological methods. Using structured illumination microscopy, interommatidial angle central determined to be Δϕ=1.1 deg. Eye shine measurements an epi-illumination microscope yielded effective pupil size about 300 facets. Intracellular recordings confirmed that all...

We have found that the spectral sensitivity of compound eye in summer fruit tortrix moth (Adoxophyes orana) differs laboratory strains originating from different regions Japan. investigated mechanisms underlying this anomalous sensitivity. applied electrophysiology, light and electron microscopy, opsin gene cloning, mathematical modeling, behavioral analysis. The ERG-determined dark-adapted individuals all peaks around 520 nm. When light-adapted, Nagano strain narrows its peak shifts to 580...

The palm borer moth Paysandisia archon (Burmeister, 1880) (fam. Castniidae) is a large, diurnally active pest. Its compound eyes consist of ~ 20,000 ommatidia and have apposition optics with interommatidial angles below 1°. contain nine photoreceptor cells appear structurally similar to those in nymphalid butterflies. Two morphological ommatidial types were identified. Using the butterfly numbering scheme, type I ommatidia, distal rhabdom consists exclusively rhabdomeres photoreceptors R1–2;...

SUMMARY Here we report the remarkable anatomy of eye Eastern Pale Clouded yellow butterfly, Colias erate. An ommatidium C. erate bears nine photoreceptors, R1–9, which together form a tiered and fused rhabdom. The distal tier rhabdom consists rhabdomeral microvilli R1–4 R5–8 photoreceptors contribute proximal tier, R9 photoreceptor adds few at base. In transverse sections, four spots red pigment surrounding are evident in ventral region eye. acts as strong filter for photoreceptors....

The facet lenses of the compound eyes long-legged flies (Dolichopodidae) feature a striking, interlaced coloration pattern, existing alternating rows green-yellow and orange-red reflecting facets, due to dielectric multilayers located distally in (Bernard Miller. Invest Ophthalmol 7:416-434 (1968). We investigated this phenomenon dolichopodid Dolichopus nitidus by applying microspectrophotometry, electron microscopy optical modeling. measured narrow-band reflectance spectra, peaking at ~540...

The palm borer moth Paysandisia archon (Castniidae; giant butterfly-moths) has brown dorsal forewings and strikingly orange-coloured hindwings with white spots surrounded by black margins. Here, we have studied the structure pigments of wing scales in various coloured areas, applying light electron microscopy (micro)spectrophotometry, analysed spatial reflection properties imaging scatterometry. are unpigmented, those areas contain amounts melanin, orange a blue-absorbing ommochrome pigment....

We have simultaneously measured the electroretinogram (ERG) and metarhodopsin content via fluorescence in white-eyed, wild-type Drosophila arrestin2 hypomorphic mutant (w − ;arr2 3 ) at a range of stimulus wavelengths intensities. Photoreceptor response amplitude termination (transition between full repolarization prolonged depolarizing afterpotential, PDA) were related to visual pigment conversions arrestin concentration. The data implemented kinetic model rhodopsin–arrestin cycle, allowing...

Artificial lateral lines are fluid flow sensor arrays, bio-inspired by the fish line organ, that measure a local hydrodynamic environment. These arrays used to detect objects in water, without relying on light, sound, or an active beacon. This passive sensing method, called imaging, is complementary sonar and vision systems suitable for collision avoidance near-field covert sensing. method has so far been demonstrated biological scale from several tens of centimeters. Here, we present...

Butterflies have variable sets of spectral photoreceptors that underlie colour vision. The photoreceptor organization may be optimized for the detection body coloration. Fritillaries (Argynnini) are nymphalid butterflies exhibiting varying degrees sexual dimorphism in wing In two sister species, females orange ( Argynnis paphia ) and dark wings sagana ), respectively, while males both species with large patches pheromone-producing androconia. spite differences female coloration, eyes exhibit...

Biophotonic nanostructures in butterfly wing scales remain fascinating examples of biological functional materials, with intriguing open questions regard to formation and evolutionary function. One particularly interesting species, Erora opisena (Lycaenidae: Theclinae), develops that contain three-dimensional photonic crystals closely resemble a single gyroid geometry. Unlike most other gyroid-forming butterflies, E. discrete crystallites pronounced size gradient hinting at developmental...

Nature's nanostructures can bring about vivid and iridescent colours seen in many insects, notably beetles butterflies. While the intense structural be advantageous for display purposes, they may also appealing to predators therefore constitute an evolutionary disadvantage. Animals often employ absorption scattering order reduce directionality of reflected light thereby enhance their camouflage. Here, we investigate monkey beetle Hoplia argentea using microspectrophotometry, electron...