The secret behind the magical colors of Central American beetles

Find out about Chrysina resplendens, the extremely formidable "gems" in the jungle.

When it comes to the aesthetic issue, perhaps in addition to the image of most beetles, it is not particularly outstanding. Even the most colorful skin bugs (June bugs) only wear a green crust combined with brown. Then, the most brilliant bulls also shared with natural blue and green tones.

Central American bug Chrysina resplendens.

Central American cheetah Chrysina resplendens , by contrast, looks indescribably charming. This beetle has a very good survival skill . scare those who want to eat it with their golden layer. Although they look like they are pulled out of Aladdin's Miraculous Cave, no one has ever been able to explain their characteristic yellow color.

Wow, take this all out to the jeweler.

To find out what makes this bug so brilliant, physicists from the University of Exeter mapped the optical signals of the beetle's shell, using transmission electron microscopy. (TEM), a visual technique that maps objects by "bombing" them with negatively charged particles.

The researchers found that the color of the bug is especially due to the nanostructures that help direct light. When light moves along the beetle's spine, it will hit the nanostructures that exist in different layers. A spectrum of visible colors will therefore reflect simultaneously, creating such a metallic gold-tint effect

Analysis of nanostructured layers in beetle armor.

Many people will probably wonder: isn't the shiny yellow like sunshine between the murky forest floors the fastest way to breed this bug? However, according to scientists, this is their disguise and defense.

"This golden color can change the way that this beetle is seen on the move, with the potential to . dazzle the enemy," said Dr. Martin Stevens, professor of ecology The Evolution and Sensation is part of the University of Exeter. "There are many other species that also emit color, but Chrysina iris possesses a bright and charismatic color, and they may even use this color to find a mate."