Moth wing scales. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of scales on the wing of a moth. All butterflies and moths have these transparent scales

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Moth wing scales. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of scales on the wing of a moth. All butterflies and moths have these transparent scales on their wings, which have tiny ridges on them. These ridges break up and reflect light, giving the wings their shimmering iridescent appearance. These scales are from the wings of a Madagascan moon moth (Argema mittrei), found in the rain forests of Madagascar.

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Size: 3066px × 3426px
Photo credit: © Kevin Mackenzie/UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -, anatomical, anatomy, animal, argema, biological, biology, close-, coloured, detail, entomological, entomology, false-colour, false-coloured, fauna, green, insect, insecta, invertebrate, invertebrates, iridescence, iridescent, lepidoptera, lepidopteran, madagascan, madagascar, mittrei, moon, moth, nature, scale, scales, sem, wildlife, wing, zoological, zoology