(040527 revised, 040527 created)
Janssen JM, Monteiro A, Brakefield PM. (2001)
Correlations between scale structure and pigmentation in
butterfly wings.
Evol Dev. 2001 Nov-Dec;3(6):415-23.
We examined the correlation between color and structure of
wing scales in the nymphalid butterflies Bicyclus anynana
and Heliconius melpomene. All scales in B. anynana are
rather similar in comparison to the clear structural
differences of differently pigmented scales in H.
melpomene. Where scale structural differences in H.melpomene are qualitative, they seem to be quantitative in
B. anynana. There is a "gradient" in the density of some
structural elements, the cross ribs, in the scales of B.
anynana: black, gold, and brown scales show progressively
lower cross rib density within an individual. There is,
however, high individual variation in the absolute cross
rib densities (i.e., scales with a particular color and
cross rib density in one individual may have a different
color but similar density in another individual). By
ectopically inducing color pattern during early pupal
development, we examined whether a scale's color and its
microstructure could be uncoupled. The effect of these
manipulations appears to be different in B. anynana and H.
melpomene. In Bicyclus, "black" scales induced by wing
damage at an ectopic location normally containing brown
scales acquire both an intermediate structure and color
between that of brown and normal black scales. In
Heliconius, however, intermediate colors or scale
structure were never observed, and scales with an altered
color (due to damage) always have the same structure as
normal scales with that color. The results are discussed
on the basis of gene expression patterns, variability in
rates of scale development and pigment, and scale
sclerotization pathways.
Bicyclus anynana: English name: Squinting Bush Brown. Japanese name: ひかげちょうの一種。季節により目玉模様が大きくかわることで知られる.
Heliconius melpomene: English name:. Japanese name: メルポメネドクチョウ （ペルー産）