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Cyphochilus

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Cyphochilus
Two white beetles
Two Cyphochilus beetles on a white background
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Scarabaeidae
Tribe: Melolonthini
Genus: Cyphochilus
Waterhouse, 1867
Species

Cyphochilus apicalis
Cyphochilus candidus
Cyphochilus carinchebanus
Cyphochilus costulatus
Cyphochilus crataceus
Cyphochilus cylindricus
Cyphochilus elongatus
Cyphochilus farinosus
Cyphochilus feae
Cyphochilus flavomarginatus
Cyphochilus insulanus
Cyphochilus latus
Cyphochilus manipurensis
Cyphochilus marginalis
Cyphochilus niveosquamosus
Cyphochilus oberthuri
Cyphochilus obscurus
Cyphochilus ochraceus
Cyphochilus peninsularis
Cyphochilus podicalis
Cyphochilus proximus
Cyphochilus pygidialis
Cyphochilus testaceipes
Cyphochilus tonkinensis
Cyphochilus tricolor
Cyphochilus unidentatus
Cyphochilus ventriglaber
Cyphochilus ventritectus
Cyphochilus vestitus
Cyphochilus waterhousei

Cyphochilus is a genus of beetles with unusually bright white scales that cover the whole exoskeleton. Cyphochilus inhabit Southeast Asia.[1]

Etymology

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Probably the same etymology as the former Cyphochilus orchid: from the Greek kyphos meaning "bent" and cheilos meaning "lip", because of the reflexed lip.[2]

External morphology

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The whiteness of the scales is caused by a thin disordered photonic structure (≈7 μm) which scatters light of all wavelengths with the same efficiency, thus resulting in a white colouration. This is particularly interesting as the beetle's exoskeleton underneath the scales is black, meaning that the scattering events must be very efficient in order to achieve such high opacity.[3]

The white scales are composed of sclerotin, a modified form of the polymer chitin, and are whiter than paper or any artificial material produced as of 2022. That is they have a scattering mean free path shorter than any natural material thanks to the anisotropy in the spatial architecture of the fibres, which ensures a high packing efficiency whilst preventing optical crowding.[4]

Ecology

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The beetles are believed to have developed white coloration to camouflage themselves among white fungi. The chitin filaments are just a few micrometres thick – far thinner than a very fine sheet of paper. The elements are tightly packed,[5] scattering light efficiently, but still able to keep a degree of disorder in their shape.[6] It has been shown how this strategy is evolutionarily optimised to produce bright whiteness despite the low refractive index of sclerotin.[7]

Inspired materials

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Scientists have exploited the topology of the random network to fabricate materials of comparable performance for application as ultra-white paints and coatings. For instance, in 2018 Syurik et al. have developed a bioinspired PMMA-based material that scatters light efficiently and is flexible and switchable in appearance.[8]

Another recent example consists of the use of cellulose nanofibrils to fabricate ultra-white paper for cosmetics and coatings.[9] Or ceramic for tiles.[10]

In 2023 a durable alumina-based ceramic based on Cyphochilus achieved a solar reflectivity of 99.6%, a record high, along with infrared thermal emission of 96.5%. It tolerates ultraviolet light and increases water evaporation and withstands temperatures of over 1,000 °C.[11]

Finally, the researchers also say that the material can be easily mass produced, using common materials like alumina and a two-step process of phase inversion and sintering. And if white is too boring for some houses, the material can apparently be produced in other colors and patterns by adding extra layers.

References

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  1. ^ "White beetle dazzles scientists". BBC News. January 18, 2007.
  2. ^ Honolulu Orchid Society and Pacific Orchid Society (1975). "Na Okika O Hawaii". Na Okika O Hawaii = Hawaii Orchid Journal. Honolulu Orchid Society and Pacific Orchid Society: 22. ISSN 0099-8745.
  3. ^ P. Vukusic, B. Hallam & J. Noyes (2007). "Brilliant whiteness in ultrathin beetle scales". Science. 315 (5810): 348. Bibcode:2007Sci...315..348V. doi:10.1126/science.1134666. PMID 17234940. S2CID 9813819.
  4. ^ Burresi, Matteo; Cortese, Lorenzo; Pattelli, Lorenzo; Kolle, Mathias; Vukusic, Peter; Wiersma, Diederik S.; Steiner, Ullrich; Vignolini, Silvia (15 August 2014). "Bright-White Beetle Scales Optimise Multiple Scattering of Light". Scientific Reports. 4 (1): 6075. Bibcode:2014NatSR...4E6075B. doi:10.1038/srep06075. PMC 4133710. PMID 25123449.
  5. ^ Cortese, Lorenzo; Pattelli, Lorenzo; Utel, Francesco; Vignolini, Silvia; Burresi, Matteo; Wiersma, Diederik S. (October 2015). "Anisotropic Light Transport in White Beetle Scales". Advanced Optical Materials. 3 (10): 1337–1341. doi:10.1002/adom.201500173. hdl:11696/65192.
  6. ^ Espuig, Maria Dasi (2014-08-16). "Beetles' whiteness understood". BBC News.
  7. ^ Wilts, Bodo D.; Sheng, Xiaoyuan; Holler, Mirko; Diaz, Ana; Guizar-Sicairos, Manuel; Raabe, Jörg; Hoppe, Robert; Liu, Shu-Hao; Langford, Richard; Onelli, Olimpia D.; Chen, Duyu; Torquato, Salvatore; Steiner, Ullrich; Schroer, Christian G.; Vignolini, Silvia; Sepe, Alessandro (22 June 2017). "Evolutionary-Optimized Photonic Network Structure in White Beetle Wing Scales". Advanced Materials. 30 (19): 1702057. doi:10.1002/adma.201702057. PMID 28640543.
  8. ^ Syurik, Julia; Jacucci, Gianni; Onelli, Olimpia D.; Holscher, Hendrik; Vignolini, Silvia (22 February 2018). "Bio-inspired Highly Scattering Networks via Polymer Phase Separation". Advanced Functional Materials. 28 (24): 1706901. doi:10.1002/adfm.201706901.
  9. ^ Toivonen, Matti S.; Onelli, Olimpia D.; Jacucci, Gianni; Lovikka, Ville; Rojas, Orlando J.; Ikkala, Olli; Vignolini, Silvia (13 March 2018). "Anomalous-Diffusion-Assisted Brightness in White Cellulose Nanofibril Membranes". Advanced Materials. 30 (16): 1704050. doi:10.1002/adma.201704050. PMID 29532967.
  10. ^ Lin Kaixin, Edwin Tso Chi-yan; Chen Siru (10 November 2023). "New cooling ceramic can enhance energy efficiency for the construction sector and help combat global warming—CityU research" (Press release). CityU Hong-Kong University.
  11. ^ Irving, Michael (2023-11-13). "Ultra-white ceramic cools buildings with record-high 99.6% reflectivity". New Atlas. Retrieved 2023-11-13.