Why 'false' colours are seen by butterflies

Article Abstract:

Research undertaken on the Australian orchard butterfly Papilio aegeus indicates that butterflies do not process polarization and colour separately, as stomatopods appear to do. In butterflies, the choice of oviposition substrate on the basis of its colour seems to be significantly influenced by the direction of polarization of the light reflected from the substrate. It is possible that the ambiguity between colour and polarization in butterflies allows them to discriminate between shiny and matt leaves before landing on them.

Visual perception

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Thermally induced ultrasonic emission from porous silicon

Article Abstract:

Piezoelectric transducers are the most common mechanisms for generating ultrasound in air, although acoustic pressure is usually limited to less than 10 Pa. An alternative method uses micromachined electrostatic diaphragms, although high voltages are required. Simple heat conduction from porous silicon to air was found to result in high-intensity ultrasound without requiring any mechanical vibrational system. The device generated acoustic pressure of 0.1 Pa at power consumption of 1 W cm(super-12).

Silicon

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Ultrasonic hearing in nocturnal butterflies: Hedylids have ultrasound-sensitive ears on their wings to help them avoid bats

Article Abstract:

Ultrasonic hearing is common in moths but it has not been demonstrated in butterflies. A new type of ultrasound-sensitive ear has been discovered in a group of nocturnally active, neotropical butterflies, Hedyloidea. Hedyloidea were previously identified as moths but are now thought to be the closest relatives of modern-day butterflies. It is proposed that hearing in Lepidoptera and day flying butterflies has resulted from intense selection pressure by echolocating bats.

Hearing, Moths

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