Life Sciences Nanotheater

A Butterfly Wing Imaged in TappingMode AFM

A butterfly (anthocaris cardamines) wing imaged in TappingMode AFM. The well-ordered 3-D lattice is an array of holes on the cuticle of the scales. The order of such a system leads to strong diffraction of favored wavelengths in certain directions. This scattering process and pigmentation causes the coloration of the butterfly. 6.25µm scan courtesy of J. Wuest, Museum d'Histoire Naturelle, Switzerland.