The evolution of structural colour in butterflies

Butterflies display some of the most striking examples of structural colour in nature. These colours originate from cuticular scales that cover the wing surface, which have evolved a diverse suite of optical nanostructures capable of manipulating light. In this review we explore recent advances in the evolution of structural colour in butterflies. We discuss new insights into the underlying genetics and development of the structural colours in various nanostructure types. Improvements in -omic and imaging technologies have been paramount to these new advances and have permitted an increased appreciation of their development and evolution.

Automated summary

This review discusses recent advances in the evolution of structural color in butterflies, focusing on the genetics and development of structural colors in different nanostructure types. The improvements in -omic and imaging technologies have played a significant role in advancing our understanding of the development and evolution of these colors.