Sexual dichromatism of the damselfly Calopteryx japonica caused by a melanin-chitin multilayer in the male wing veins.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Stavenga DG
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3502265 | biostudies-literature | 2012
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Sexual dichromatism of the damselfly Calopteryx japonica caused by a melanin-chitin multilayer in the male wing veins.
Stavenga Doekele G DG Leertouwer Hein L HL Hariyama Takahiko T De Raedt Hans A HA Wilts Bodo D BD
PloS one 20121120 11
Mature male Calopteryx japonica damselflies have dark-blue wings, due to darkly coloured wing membranes and blue reflecting veins. The membranes contain a high melanin concentration and the veins have a multilayer of melanin and chitin. Female and immature C. japonica damselflies have brown wings. We have determined the refractive index of melanin by comparing the differently pigmented wing membranes and applying Jamin-Lebedeff interference microscopy. Together with the previously measured refra ...[more]
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