Art of Structural Coloration in Insects

Akinori Kosaku¹ and Kiyoshi Miyamoto²

¹Laboratory of Clinical Sciences, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Tochigi 321-02, Japan
²Laboratory of Medical Sciences, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Tochigi 321-02, Japan

(Received February 28, 1994; Accepted May 16, 1994)

Keywords: Structural Colour, Weevil Beetle, Shieldbug, Tyndall Blue, Multiple Layer Interference

Abstract. The electron microscopic investigations have made a whole range of microstructures visible, at which light interference phenomena occur. This study describes the fine art of surface microstructures which relate to the production of structural coloration in weevil beetle and shieldbug collected in Japan.