What mechanism causes the iridescent blues, greens, and golds seen on many flashy beetle species?
Answer
Structural color resulting from microscopic layering or grating of the cuticle
Structural color, responsible for iridescent hues, results from the microscopic layering or grating of the cuticle that refracts and reflects specific wavelengths of light, unlike pigmentary color which comes from chemical compounds.
Related Questions
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