Scientific Note: Capturing a green Morpho: In polarized low light in the tropical rainforest, Morpho wing iridescence may contribute to camouflage

Authors

  • Peter R. Houlihan
  • Andrei Sourakov

Abstract

Morpho Fabricius, 1807 species have served as models for producing bioinspired materials with variable structural colors, which have wide applications. Our recent field observation in French Guiana, suported by a lab experiment, demonstrates that the dorsal surface of Morpho menelaus can produce cryptic green coloration in low-light reflected from green vegetation. These observations are consistent with recently published evidence from experiments on jewel beetles that iridescent color is an effective form of camouflage.

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Published

2020-06-30

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Section

Articles