Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Visual adaptation in butterflies

Nature volume 254, pages 435–437 (1975)Cite this article

Abstract

THE brilliant glow appearing in the compound eye of butterflies has intrigued investigators of insect eyes since the observations of Exner1. Miller and Bernard have presented a convincing optical interpretation of the butterfly glow, that the tracheole basal to the rhabdom is modified in such a way as to act as a quarter wavelength interference reflection filter (see refs 2–4). On light adaptation, the eye glow vanishes rapidly1. Miller and Bernard have conjectured that this is caused by a distal migration of pigment granules in the pigment cells surrounding the crystalline cone2.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Exner, S., Die Physiologie der facettirten Augen von Krebsen und Insekten (Franz. Deuticke, Leipzig–Wien, 1891).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  2. Miller, W. H., and Bernard, G. D., J. Ultrastruct. Res, 24, 286–294 (1968).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Miller, W. H., Bernard, G. D., and Allen, J. L., Science, 162, 760–767 (1968).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Land, M. F., Prog. Biophys., 24, 75–106 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Swihart, S. L., Gordon, W. C., and Machwart, R. J., J. Insect Physiol., 20, 359–381 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Nature, 250, 188 (1974).

  7. Swihart, S. L., J. Insect Physiol., 20, 1027–1036 (1974).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Stavenga, D. G., Proc. Int. Union Physiol. Sc., IX, 532 25th Int. Congr. Munich (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Stavenga, D. G., Zantema, A., and Kuiper, J. W., in Biochemistry and Physiology of Visual Pigments (edit. by Langer, H.) 175–180 (Springer, Berlin, 1973).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  10. Stavenga, D. G., J. comp. Physiol., 91, 417–426 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Stavenga, D. G., Vision Res., 15, 323–330 (1975).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Kirschfeld, K., and Franceschini, N., Kybernetik, 6, 13–22 (1969).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Snyder, A. W., and Horridge, G. A., J. comp. Physiol., 81, 1–8 (1972).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Franceschini, N., and Kirschfeld, K., Kybernetik, 9, 159–182 (1971).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Stavenga, D. G., in Receptor Optics (edit. by Snyder, A. W., and Menzel, R.), (Springer, Berlin, in the press).

  16. Franceschini, N., in Information Processing in Visual Systems of Arthropods (edit. by Wehner, R.), 75–82 (Springer, Berlin, 1972).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  17. Hamdorf, K., Paulsen, R., and Schwemer, J., in Biochemistry and Physiology of Visual Pigments (edit. by Langer, H.), 155–166 (Springer, Berlin, 1973).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  18. Hamdorf, K., Höglund, G., and Langer, H., J. comp. Physiol., 86, 247–263 (1973).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Brown, P. K., and White, R. H., J. gen. Physiol., 59, 401–414 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Minke, B., Hochstein, S., and Hillman, P., J. gen Physiol., 62, 105–128 (1973).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Goldsmith, T. H., and Bernard, G. D., in Physiology of Insecta, II, 165–272 (Academic, San Francisco, 1974).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  22. Stavenga, D. G., Flokstra, J. H., and Kuiper, J. W., Nature, 253, 740–742 (1975).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Muijser, H., Leutscher-Hazelhoff, J. T., Stavenga, D. G., and Kuiper, J. W., Nature (in the press).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biophysical Department, Laboratorium voor Algemene Natuurkunde, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    D. G. STAVENGA

Authors
  1. D. G. STAVENGA
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

STAVENGA, D. Visual adaptation in butterflies. Nature 254, 435–437 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/254435a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/254435a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing