Bogong Moths Are Well Camouflaged by Effectively Decolourized Wing Scales
Moth wings are densely covered by wing scales that are assumed to specifically function to camouflage nocturnally active species during day time. Generally, moth wing scales are built according to the basic lepidopteran Bauplan, where the upper lamina consists of an array of parallel ridges and the...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-02-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2020.00095/full |
| _version_ | 1819130295395287040 |
|---|---|
| author | Doekele G. Stavenga Jesse R. A. Wallace Eric J. Warrant Eric J. Warrant |
| author_facet | Doekele G. Stavenga Jesse R. A. Wallace Eric J. Warrant Eric J. Warrant |
| author_sort | Doekele G. Stavenga |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Moth wings are densely covered by wing scales that are assumed to specifically function to camouflage nocturnally active species during day time. Generally, moth wing scales are built according to the basic lepidopteran Bauplan, where the upper lamina consists of an array of parallel ridges and the lower lamina is a thin plane. The lower lamina hence acts as a thin film reflector having distinct reflectance spectra that can make the owner colorful and thus conspicuous for predators. Most moth species therefore load the scales’ upper lamina with variable amounts of melanin so that dull, brownish color patterns result. We investigated whether scale pigmentation in this manner indeed provides moths with camouflage by comparing the reflectance spectra of the wings and scales of the Australian Bogong moth (Agrotis infusa) with those of objects in their natural environment. The similarity of the spectra underscores the effective camouflaging strategies of this moth species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T08:57:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-90a6923d0a214db0a909e2e75ed91ed0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T08:57:20Z |
| publishDate | 2020-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-90a6923d0a214db0a909e2e75ed91ed02022-12-21T18:31:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2020-02-011110.3389/fphys.2020.00095503022Bogong Moths Are Well Camouflaged by Effectively Decolourized Wing ScalesDoekele G. Stavenga0Jesse R. A. Wallace1Eric J. Warrant2Eric J. Warrant3Surfaces and Thin Films, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Groningen, NetherlandsResearch School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, AustraliaResearch School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, AustraliaLund Vision Group, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, SwedenMoth wings are densely covered by wing scales that are assumed to specifically function to camouflage nocturnally active species during day time. Generally, moth wing scales are built according to the basic lepidopteran Bauplan, where the upper lamina consists of an array of parallel ridges and the lower lamina is a thin plane. The lower lamina hence acts as a thin film reflector having distinct reflectance spectra that can make the owner colorful and thus conspicuous for predators. Most moth species therefore load the scales’ upper lamina with variable amounts of melanin so that dull, brownish color patterns result. We investigated whether scale pigmentation in this manner indeed provides moths with camouflage by comparing the reflectance spectra of the wings and scales of the Australian Bogong moth (Agrotis infusa) with those of objects in their natural environment. The similarity of the spectra underscores the effective camouflaging strategies of this moth species.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2020.00095/fullAgrotis infusacolorationwing patterningmelaninreflectance spectrascale anatomy |
| spellingShingle | Doekele G. Stavenga Jesse R. A. Wallace Eric J. Warrant Eric J. Warrant Bogong Moths Are Well Camouflaged by Effectively Decolourized Wing Scales Frontiers in Physiology Agrotis infusa coloration wing patterning melanin reflectance spectra scale anatomy |
| title | Bogong Moths Are Well Camouflaged by Effectively Decolourized Wing Scales |
| title_full | Bogong Moths Are Well Camouflaged by Effectively Decolourized Wing Scales |
| title_fullStr | Bogong Moths Are Well Camouflaged by Effectively Decolourized Wing Scales |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bogong Moths Are Well Camouflaged by Effectively Decolourized Wing Scales |
| title_short | Bogong Moths Are Well Camouflaged by Effectively Decolourized Wing Scales |
| title_sort | bogong moths are well camouflaged by effectively decolourized wing scales |
| topic | Agrotis infusa coloration wing patterning melanin reflectance spectra scale anatomy |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2020.00095/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT doekelegstavenga bogongmothsarewellcamouflagedbyeffectivelydecolourizedwingscales AT jesserawallace bogongmothsarewellcamouflagedbyeffectivelydecolourizedwingscales AT ericjwarrant bogongmothsarewellcamouflagedbyeffectivelydecolourizedwingscales AT ericjwarrant bogongmothsarewellcamouflagedbyeffectivelydecolourizedwingscales |