Investigation of the selective color-changing mechanism of Dynastes tityus beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Not only does the Dynastes tityus beetle display a reversible color change controlled by differences in humidity, but also, the elytron scale can change color from yellow-green to deep-brown in specified shapes. The results obtained by focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM), show that the epicuticle (EPI) is a permeable layer, and the exocuticle (EXO) is a three-dimensional photonic crystal. To investigate the mechanism of the reversible color change, experiments were conducted to determine the water contact angle, surface chemical composition, and optical reflectance, and the reflective spectrum was simulated. The water on the surface began to permeate into the elytron via the surface elemental composition and channels in the EPI. A structural unit (SU) in the EXO allows local color changes in varied shapes. The reflectance of both yellow-green and deep-brown elytra increases as the incidence angle increases from 0° to 60°. The microstructure and changes in the refractive index are the main factors that influence the process of reversible color change. According to the simulation, the lower reflectance causing the color change to deep-brown results from water infiltration, which increases light absorption. Meanwhile, the waxy layer has no effect on the reflection of light. This study lays the foundation to manufacture engineered photonic materials that undergo controllable changes in iridescent color.