Polarized iridescence of the tropical carpenter bee, Xylocopa latipes

Doekele G. Stavenga; Kim Kats; Hein L. Leertouwer

doi:10.1007/s00359-022-01592-9

Polarized iridescence of the tropical carpenter bee, Xylocopa latipes

Doekele G. Stavenga^*, Kim Kats, Hein L. Leertouwer

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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Abstract

The tropical carpenter bee, Xylocopa latipes, has metallic-reflecting, iridescent wings. The wing reflectance spectra for TE- and TM-polarized light depend on the angle of light incidence in a way characteristic for dielectric multilayers. Anatomy indicates the presence of melanin multilayers in the wing’s chitinous matrix. A simple optical model of melanin multilayers explains the angle dependence of the wing reflectance spectra. The wing reflections that occur upon oblique illumination exhibit colourful and strongly polarized light patterns, which may mediate intraspecific signaling and mutual recognition by conspecifics.

Original language	English
Number of pages	7
Journal	Journal of Comparative Physiology A: Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-022-01592-9
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 16-Nov-2022

Keywords

Degree of polarization
Reflectance spectrum
Spectral sensitivity
Structural colouration

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title = "Polarized iridescence of the tropical carpenter bee, Xylocopa latipes",

abstract = "The tropical carpenter bee, Xylocopa latipes, has metallic-reflecting, iridescent wings. The wing reflectance spectra for TE- and TM-polarized light depend on the angle of light incidence in a way characteristic for dielectric multilayers. Anatomy indicates the presence of melanin multilayers in the wing{\textquoteright}s chitinous matrix. A simple optical model of melanin multilayers explains the angle dependence of the wing reflectance spectra. The wing reflections that occur upon oblique illumination exhibit colourful and strongly polarized light patterns, which may mediate intraspecific signaling and mutual recognition by conspecifics.",

keywords = "Degree of polarization, Reflectance spectrum, Spectral sensitivity, Structural colouration",

author = "Stavenga, {Doekele G.} and Kim Kats and Leertouwer, {Hein L.}",

note = "Funding Information: This study was financially supported by AFOSR/EOARD (grant FA9550-15-1-0068) and ZonMW (grant 91111.006). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022, The Author(s).",

year = "2022",

month = nov,

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doi = "10.1007/s00359-022-01592-9",

language = "English",

journal = "Journal of Comparative Physiology A",

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AU - Kats, Kim

AU - Leertouwer, Hein L.

PY - 2022/11/16

Y1 - 2022/11/16

N2 - The tropical carpenter bee, Xylocopa latipes, has metallic-reflecting, iridescent wings. The wing reflectance spectra for TE- and TM-polarized light depend on the angle of light incidence in a way characteristic for dielectric multilayers. Anatomy indicates the presence of melanin multilayers in the wing’s chitinous matrix. A simple optical model of melanin multilayers explains the angle dependence of the wing reflectance spectra. The wing reflections that occur upon oblique illumination exhibit colourful and strongly polarized light patterns, which may mediate intraspecific signaling and mutual recognition by conspecifics.

AB - The tropical carpenter bee, Xylocopa latipes, has metallic-reflecting, iridescent wings. The wing reflectance spectra for TE- and TM-polarized light depend on the angle of light incidence in a way characteristic for dielectric multilayers. Anatomy indicates the presence of melanin multilayers in the wing’s chitinous matrix. A simple optical model of melanin multilayers explains the angle dependence of the wing reflectance spectra. The wing reflections that occur upon oblique illumination exhibit colourful and strongly polarized light patterns, which may mediate intraspecific signaling and mutual recognition by conspecifics.

KW - Degree of polarization

KW - Reflectance spectrum

KW - Spectral sensitivity

KW - Structural colouration

U2 - 10.1007/s00359-022-01592-9

DO - 10.1007/s00359-022-01592-9

M3 - Article

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JO - Journal of Comparative Physiology A

JF - Journal of Comparative Physiology A

SN - 1432-1351

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