Angle-dependent discoloration structures in wing scales of Morpho menelaus butterfly

The Morpho butterfly is famous for its typical structural color and has increasingly attracted the interest of scholars in a wide variety of research fields. Herein, it was found that the color of Morpho menelaus butterfly wings is not only structure-based but also viewing-angle-dependent. Firstly, the discoloration effect of this typical butterfly was confirmed by a series of experiments. Then, the general form, arrangements, and geometrical dimensions of the scales were observed using a stereomicroscope. Scanning electron microscopy was also used to examine the two-dimensional morphologies and structures of a single scale. Afterwards, one model with the optimized three-dimensional profile of the structure was described using Pro-engineer software. The associate model was then analyzed to reconstruct the process between the incident light and the model surface. Finally, the mechanism of the angle-dependent discoloration effect was analyzed by theoretical calculation and optical simulation. Different light propagation paths and the length of the incident light at different angles caused destructive or constructive interference between the light reflected from the different layers. The different spectra of the reflected light make the wings appear with different structural colors, thereby endowing the angle-dependent discoloration effect. The consistency of the calculation and simulation results confirms that these structures possess an excellent angle-dependent discoloration effect. This functional “biomimetic structure” would not only be of great scientific interest but could also have a great impact in a wide range of applications such as reflective displays, credit card security, and military stealth technology.