Spectrome analysis of wing interference patters of insects

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K06318
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 45030:Biodiversity and systematics-related
• Research Institution: Kanagawa University
• Principal Investigator: Takahashi Kazuo 神奈川大学, 理学部, 教授 (10450199)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 翅干渉色

Outline of Final Research Achievements

I conducted research aimed at establishing a quantification method for Wing Interference Patterns (WIPs), structural colors observed in the transparent wings of small insects, to elucidate the variations in WIPs among small insects and their ecological significance. In fiscal year 2021, I quantitatively evaluated the WIPs of 12 species of Drosophila and assessed the impact of larval developmental conditions on adult WIPs. Continuing our work with Drosophila in fiscal year 2022, I also conducted quantitative evaluations of the WIPs of flower-visiting insects. In fiscal year 2023, I evaluated the WIPs of four closely related species of Drosophila and their F1 hybrids, revealing differences in genetic patterns. Additionally, I developed a visible light-UV imaging system and established a method to evaluate WIPs using the insect and avian visions.

Free Research Field

昆虫生態学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で確立した、ハイパースペクトル画像解析による昆虫のWIPs解析の試みは世界初である。本研究をベースとして、幅広い昆虫群において、人間の知覚の限界を超えたWIPsのスペクトローム解析が可能となる事が期待できる。また、WIPsに基づいた性判定や種判別が可能となったことに加えて、WIPsが幼虫期の発育環境を反映する可能性も示唆されたため、成虫のWIPsの解析により、幼虫期の発育環境の推定も可能となるかも知れない。さらに、本研究の成果は、WIPsの進化や発生・遺伝基盤の解明にもつながる可能性があり、様々な研究分野に波及効果を及ぼす事が期待される。