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Post by papilio28570 on Jan 12, 2013 13:37:55 GMT -8
I bought an O. priamus this week from Ianni's advertised as a "mini". A very pretty specimen with a 4.5 inch wingspan. After taking it off the mounting board, I had it set aside to place in a drawer when I noticed that looking at the insect from a low angle from the rear, a lot of yellow is revealed as a result of refraction of the light. Is this normal for O. priamus? I also noticed that a the butterfly is tilted away and viewed at about a 30 degree angle from the rear, the hindwings take on a much bluer tint (which I did not photograph). Attachments:
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Post by papilio28570 on Jan 12, 2013 13:38:34 GMT -8
Same specimen viewed from the vertical. No data supplied with specimen. I'm guessing a variant of ssp. hecuba Attachments:
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Post by irisscientist on Jan 13, 2013 4:24:16 GMT -8
Papilio28570, Studies on the light fraction from insect wings have been conducted using various members of the Apaturinae. See the following paper "High angular and spectral selectivity of purple emperor (Lepidoptera: Apatura iris and A. ilia) butterfly wings", which can be read in full at the following URL link: However due to mutiple failed attempts to attach a direct link to the paper, simply follow the link below: www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?uri=oe-19-7-5817and the select the acrobat.pdf document to view/download the paper. It would appear that the iridescent nature of the wings of these beautiful insects are caused by the depth of scale membrane arches (on the pigment scales). Here I attach a close up SEM image that I have taken of the wings of Apatura iris, which clearly shows the depth of these arches in detail. The 30 degree estimated angular refraction you state, is similar to that observed in the Apaturinae specimens samples, which were confirmed to be at 18 degrees. Regards, Mark Attachments:
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Post by papilio28570 on Jan 13, 2013 7:55:01 GMT -8
The detail of the architecture of these arches is absolutely stunning. How such a structure ever evolved is mind boggling.
The yellow I mentioned above shows up at a much lower angle than 30 degrees and 18 degrees is more accurate but I have no way of measuring. But, it is at 30 degrees that I begin to notice a shift in color beginning, principally with the hind wing color shifting toward blue.
Fascinating subject, and thanks for the incredible photo. Words could not begin to describe...
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