Abstract
In this study the damselfly Ischnura senegalensis (Rambur, 1842) was first found to produce strong photoluminescence (PL) emissions from various colored-body portions, such as the eighth abdominal segment of the tail. The colors of the colored-body portions can be enhanced or modified by the PL emissions for assistance in reducing intrasexual and male harassment, and improving mature mating and conspecific identity. Therefore, the PL emissions that contribute to the color modification and coloration are involved in the cuticle evolution of the damselflies. The micro-PL confocal images verify that the PL emissions can strongly influence the surface colors of the cuticle, and demonstrate why the damselfly Ischnura senegalensis is called a bluetail.
Highlights
The various specific body portions of captured damselflies, whose names are indicated in Fig. 6, can be directly observed by naked eyes or cameras
The various specific body portions of captured damselflies were directly observed by a PL spectromicroscope
The micro-PL confocal images of the ultrathin histological sections at the various specific body portions were taken under the bright field with and without blue, green and red filters, respectively
Summary
The Damselfly Ischnura senegalensis (Rambur, 1842) was first found to emit strong PL emissions from the various colored-body portions of the compound eyes, thorax front, wings, and eighth abdominal segment of the tail. There is an obvious difference in appearance of the colors of the colored-body portions in the PL image and those in the optical image, indicating that the PL emissions act as biological pigments and multilayer structures and can modify the colors or coloration of the colored-body portions. This PL phenomenon is strongly related to cuticle evolution in the damselflies. The ultrathin histological sections of the various specific body portions of the damselfly Ischnura senegalensis were examined by confocal fluorescence microscopy and TEM. PL does impact on the color morphism of a male damselfly Ischnura senegalensis, and it helps to reduce intrasexual and male harassment and to signal mature mating and conspecific identity
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