Two species of miniature peacock spiders have been found to use an entire rainbow of colours while courting females, in the first known instance of such a display. Scientists call the spectacle “nature’s smallest rainbow”.
Maratus robinsoni and Maratus chrysomelas have two types of visually distinct abdominal scales: rainbow-iridescent scales and velvet black scales. The black scales are brush-like and randomly oriented, while the rainbow-iridescent scales are more orderly aligned, cling to the cuticle surface and have bulky 3D shapes. Each of these bulky, iridescent scales contains a series of three-dimensional, parallel grates used to split different wavelengths of light a different angles.
By studying the remarkable patterns packed into the 5 mm small body of the rainbow peacock spider, scientists say it could be possible to harness similar ‘super iridescent’ qualities for new colour technology.
Picture Credit : Google
