and here is a beetle that looks like it has been chromed,
photographs Michael Farmer, the beetle in question is Chrysina limbata, it is a species of beetle native to the tropical rainforests of Central America known for its metallic reflective silver color which makes specimens look like living pieces of jewelry,
the reason it is so shiny is that according to Wikipedia, this visual effect “is achieved through thin film interference within layers of chitin. These layers of the chitin coating are chirped (in layers of differing thicknesses), forming a complex multilayer as each layer decreases in depth; as the thickness changes, so too does the optical path-length. Each chirped layer is tuned to a different wavelength of light”,
the beetle is so shinny in fact that you can see your own reflection in the wing cases, while strolling through his property, Michael Farmer noticed something shiny on the leaves of a guava tree. It glinted in the sun like a piece of polished metal, but as he approached, he noticed that the metal was alive and crawling on the leaves,
“I was amazed by how beautiful it was,” Farmer told The Dodo. “[I’ve] never seen anything like it. [It] was like a mirror. Utterly flawless reflection in the beetle, truly one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.” the beetles are becoming increasingly rare, due to habitat loss, and the fact that they are very popular among collectors, with some paying as much as $500 per pristine specimens,
as it happens many times live insects were used as 'living gems' a fashion accessory for the rich, or a play thing for the poor, thank goodness for people like Farmer who returned the creature to the wild.
No comments:
Post a Comment