SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDIES ON THE STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION OF WING SCALES OF BUTTERFLIES OF KARANTHAMALAI RESERVE FOREST, TAMIL NADU, INDIAS. SHARMILA, A. JOSEPH THATHEYUS AND M. MUTHUKATTURAJAAbstract Six species of butterflies namely Jamides celeno, Junonia orithya, Neptis hylas, Delias eucharis, Papilio demoleus and Eurema blanda were selected from the Karanthamalai reserve forest and their wing scales were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM images revealed the presence of thousands of scales, and their size was observed to be species-specific. The scales are organized in alternate rows, as is typical for Lepidoptera wings, with a long set of scales covering and concealing a shorter set of ground scales. SEM photography of the wings (dorsal side) of selected butterflies showed a direct comparison of the structure of cover and base scales which was observed to be normal in most cases but Eurema blanda shows the presence of overlapping scales and size of longitudinal ridges is about 1.66 ïm; cross rib varies from 1.23 to 1.47 ïm. The diameter of the ridges in Neptis hylas scales varies from 1.19 to 1.39 ïm. In Junonia orithya, the interspace between cross rib ranges from 0.45 to 0.87 ïm. Differences between the results for the six species appear to fit their morphological and architectural differences. |