Beilstein J. Nanotechnol.2023,14, 496–508, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.41
dark pigment. The white colour of the scales has a structural origin. The structuralwhite produced by the micro- and nanostructures of the scales on the tarsi of Ae. albopictus appears bright and is angle-dependent, since the reflected light changes according to the angle detection and according to
appearance. The results suggest that mosquito scales, in addition to their superhydrophobic function, produce structuralwhite. The biological role of white and black patches in mate recognition and defensive behaviour in the mosquitoes of the genus Aedes is hypothesized.
Keywords: biological optics
; insects; nanostructure; scales; structuralwhite; Introduction
Body color (coloration) and light signals (bioluminescence) have a fundamental role in insect inter- and intra-specific visual communication allowing for species recognition, mating, prey capture, and predator avoidance [1]. Insect colours
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Figure 1:
Adults of Aedes albopictus under a stereomicroscope. Female (a) and male (b) typically characterise...