Entimus imperialis, common name Brazilian diamond beetle, is a species of broad-nosed weevils belonging to the family true weevil and the Entiminae subfamily.
Entimus imperialis can reach a length of about 16–30 millimetres (0.63–1.18 in). The basic colour is black. Elytra are strongly convex and laterally compressed, punctured with longitudinal rows of golden-green dots, filled with scales composed by crystals of chitin and resembling little diamonds (hence the common name). Diamond beetles are also used for ladies' jewelry.
The scales of Entimus imperialis appears iridescent (i.e., exhibit colour changes with viewing angle) because of the presence of three-dimensional photonic crystals. [1][2][3] This characteristics is probably used as a camouflage and to facilitate intersexual recognition.[2]
Iridescent scales on Entimus imperialis
Electron micrograph of the three-dimensional photonic crystals within the scales on Entimus imperialis
Distributionedit
This species can be found in southwest Brazil as an endemic species.[1][2]
Referencesedit
^ abOlivier Deparis and Jean-Pol Vigneron - Modeling the photonic response of biological nanostructures using the concept of stratified medium: The case of a natural three-dimensional photonic crystal, Mater. Sci. Eng. B-Adv. 169, 12–15 (2010).
^ abcBodo D. Wilts, Kristel Michielsen, Jeroen Kuipers, Hans De Raedt and Doekele G. Stavenga - Brilliant camouflage: photonic crystals in the diamond weevil, Entimus imperialis (29 February 2012)
^Sébastien Mouchet, Jean-François Colomer, Cédric Vandenbem, Olivier Deparis and Jean-Pol Vigneron - Method for modeling additive color effect in photonic polycrystals with form anisotropic elements: the case of Entimus imperialis weevil , Optics Express 21(11), 13228-13240 (2013).
entimus, imperialis, common, name, brazilian, diamond, beetle, species, broad, nosed, weevils, belonging, family, true, weevil, entiminae, subfamily, brazilian, diamond, beetle, from, brazil, scientific, classification, domain, eukaryota, kingdom, animalia, ph. Entimus imperialis common name Brazilian diamond beetle is a species of broad nosed weevils belonging to the family true weevil and the Entiminae subfamily Brazilian diamond beetle Entimus imperialis from Brazil Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Class Insecta Order Coleoptera Infraorder Cucujiformia Family Curculionidae Genus Entimus Species E imperialis Binomial name Entimus imperialis Forster 1771 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution 3 References 4 External linksDescription editEntimus imperialis can reach a length of about 16 30 millimetres 0 63 1 18 in The basic colour is black Elytra are strongly convex and laterally compressed punctured with longitudinal rows of golden green dots filled with scales composed by crystals of chitin and resembling little diamonds hence the common name Diamond beetles are also used for ladies jewelry The scales of Entimus imperialis appears iridescent i e exhibit colour changes with viewing angle because of the presence of three dimensional photonic crystals 1 2 3 This characteristics is probably used as a camouflage and to facilitate intersexual recognition 2 nbsp Iridescent scales on Entimus imperialis nbsp Electron micrograph of the three dimensional photonic crystals within the scales on Entimus imperialisDistribution editThis species can be found in southwest Brazil as an endemic species 1 2 References edit a b Olivier Deparis and Jean Pol Vigneron Modeling the photonic response of biological nanostructures using the concept of stratified medium The case of a natural three dimensional photonic crystal Mater Sci Eng B Adv 169 12 15 2010 a b c Bodo D Wilts Kristel Michielsen Jeroen Kuipers Hans De Raedt and Doekele G Stavenga Brilliant camouflage photonic crystals in the diamond weevil Entimus imperialis 29 February 2012 Sebastien Mouchet Jean Francois Colomer Cedric Vandenbem Olivier Deparis and Jean Pol Vigneron Method for modeling additive color effect in photonic polycrystals with form anisotropic elements the case of Entimus imperialis weevil Optics Express 21 11 13228 13240 2013 Universal biological Indexer Wired com Virtual beetles Archived 2016 03 03 at the Wayback MachineExternal links editEntimus imperialis on Flickr This Entiminae related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Entimus imperialis amp oldid 1222106188, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
