Ultrablack color in velvet ant cuticle
We studied the ultrastructure of the ultrablack cuticle in Traumatomutilla bifurca, an enigmatic and visually striking species of velvet ants (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae). Using a combination of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), confocal laser scanning microsco...
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| Language: | English |
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Beilstein-Institut
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.15.122 |
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| author | Vinicius Marques Lopez Wencke Krings Juliana Reis Machado Stanislav Gorb Rhainer Guillermo-Ferreira |
| author_facet | Vinicius Marques Lopez Wencke Krings Juliana Reis Machado Stanislav Gorb Rhainer Guillermo-Ferreira |
| author_sort | Vinicius Marques Lopez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We studied the ultrastructure of the ultrablack cuticle in Traumatomutilla bifurca, an enigmatic and visually striking species of velvet ants (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae). Using a combination of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and optical spectroscopy, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the cuticle to elucidate its unique optical properties. SEM imaging provided a detailed surface morphology, while TEM provided insights into the internal structure. CLSM showed that the cuticle exhibits no autofluorescence. Our findings reveal a highly specialized cuticle, characterized by microstructures that effectively minimize reflectance and enhance light absorption. Optical spectrometry confirmed the ultrablack nature of the cuticle, with the measured reflectance approaching minimal levels across a broad spectrum of wavelengths. Therefore, our study contributes to a deeper understanding of ultrablack biological materials and their potential applications in biomimetics. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ee3f5aeb3bc64fae86194beaee45b334 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2190-4286 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Beilstein-Institut |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology |
| spelling | doaj-art-ee3f5aeb3bc64fae86194beaee45b3342025-01-06T12:27:48ZengBeilstein-InstitutBeilstein Journal of Nanotechnology2190-42862024-12-011511554156510.3762/bjnano.15.1222190-4286-15-122Ultrablack color in velvet ant cuticleVinicius Marques Lopez0Wencke Krings1Juliana Reis Machado2Stanislav Gorb3Rhainer Guillermo-Ferreira4Lestes Lab, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 1–9, 24098 Kiel, Germany Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 1–9, 24098 Kiel, Germany Lestes Lab, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil We studied the ultrastructure of the ultrablack cuticle in Traumatomutilla bifurca, an enigmatic and visually striking species of velvet ants (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae). Using a combination of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and optical spectroscopy, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the cuticle to elucidate its unique optical properties. SEM imaging provided a detailed surface morphology, while TEM provided insights into the internal structure. CLSM showed that the cuticle exhibits no autofluorescence. Our findings reveal a highly specialized cuticle, characterized by microstructures that effectively minimize reflectance and enhance light absorption. Optical spectrometry confirmed the ultrablack nature of the cuticle, with the measured reflectance approaching minimal levels across a broad spectrum of wavelengths. Therefore, our study contributes to a deeper understanding of ultrablack biological materials and their potential applications in biomimetics.https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.15.122animal colorationbiophotonicshymenopterainsectsmutillidaesuperblacksurface |
| spellingShingle | Vinicius Marques Lopez Wencke Krings Juliana Reis Machado Stanislav Gorb Rhainer Guillermo-Ferreira Ultrablack color in velvet ant cuticle Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology animal coloration biophotonics hymenoptera insects mutillidae superblack surface |
| title | Ultrablack color in velvet ant cuticle |
| title_full | Ultrablack color in velvet ant cuticle |
| title_fullStr | Ultrablack color in velvet ant cuticle |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ultrablack color in velvet ant cuticle |
| title_short | Ultrablack color in velvet ant cuticle |
| title_sort | ultrablack color in velvet ant cuticle |
| topic | animal coloration biophotonics hymenoptera insects mutillidae superblack surface |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.15.122 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT viniciusmarqueslopez ultrablackcolorinvelvetantcuticle AT wenckekrings ultrablackcolorinvelvetantcuticle AT julianareismachado ultrablackcolorinvelvetantcuticle AT stanislavgorb ultrablackcolorinvelvetantcuticle AT rhainerguillermoferreira ultrablackcolorinvelvetantcuticle |