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.