Giant Blue Morpho Butterfly (IMAGE)

Ohio State University

Giant Blue Morpho Butterfly

Caption

This is one of a series of images that shows the texture on the surface of a butterfly wing. Engineers studied the texture to devise dirt- and water-resistant coatings for devices such as pipes and medical equipment. An electron microscope revealed micrometer-scale features that resemble shingles on a roof, and an even finer nanometer-scale features: parallel grooves on the surface of the shingles.

Credit

Photos by Jo McCulty, electron microscope images by Bharat Bhushan and Gregory Bixler. All courtesy of Ohio State University.

Usage Restrictions

None

License

Licensed content

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.