Meeting Abstract
Animal coloration is a fundamental aspect of visual communication (e.g., sexual selection, aposematism) and crypsis (e.g., camouflage, mimicry). Insect coloration is largely determined by either pigmentation, local nanostructures, or a combination of both. A number of structural optical mechanisms are employed, producing striking visual effects including iridescence and polarization. While the totality of visual signal produced is incredibly complex to tease apart in a biological context, an important initial step is to determine what aspects of visual signal(s) are present and how they are produced. Recently, a number of new image analysis packages and toolboxes (e.g., colordistance, micaToolbox, NaturePatternMatch, pavo2, patternize) have been released. Here we used these tools to analyze digital image data across a speciose lineage of jewel beetles (Buprestidae: Chrysochroa), a group that displays a dazzling array of both structural iridescence and pigmented colors, alongside a visual system that exhibits diverse wavelength sensitivity. We used these data to investigate phylogenetic, taxonomic, biogeographic, and natural history components of a beautiful, yet classification-challenged group of economically important beetles. While visual signals will always remain an inherently complex system to study both qualitatively and quantitatively, repeatable measurements and statistical analyses of these data are advancing rapidly, paving the way for foundational exploration necessary to inform more rigorous spectrophotometric measurements and to precede formative behavioral studies.
