Rainbow peacock spiders inspire miniature super-iridescent optics

Bor-Kai Hsiung (), Radwanul Hasan Siddique, Doekele G. Stavenga, Jürgen C. Otto, Michael C. Allen, Ying Liu, Yong-Feng Lu, Dimitri D. Deheyn, Matthew D. Shawkey and Todd A. Blackledge
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Bor-Kai Hsiung: The University of Akron
Radwanul Hasan Siddique: California Institute of Technology
Doekele G. Stavenga: University of Groningen
Jürgen C. Otto: 19 Grevillea Avenue
Michael C. Allen: University of California, San Diego
Ying Liu: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Yong-Feng Lu: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Dimitri D. Deheyn: University of California, San Diego
Matthew D. Shawkey: The University of Akron
Todd A. Blackledge: The University of Akron

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Colour produced by wavelength-dependent light scattering is a key component of visual communication in nature and acts particularly strongly in visual signalling by structurally-coloured animals during courtship. Two miniature peacock spiders (Maratus robinsoni and M. chrysomelas) court females using tiny structured scales (~ 40 × 10 μm2) that reflect the full visual spectrum. Using TEM and optical modelling, we show that the spiders’ scales have 2D nanogratings on microscale 3D convex surfaces with at least twice the resolving power of a conventional 2D diffraction grating of the same period. Whereas the long optical path lengths required for light-dispersive components to resolve individual wavelengths constrain current spectrometers to bulky sizes, our nano-3D printed prototypes demonstrate that the design principle of the peacock spiders’ scales could inspire novel, miniature light-dispersive components.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-02451-x

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