Preservation of iridescent colours in Phorinia Robineau-Desvoidy 1830 (Diptera: Tachinidae)

摘要

BackgroundIridescent blue-green colours are exhibited by various organisms including several taxa in the Tachinidae (Diptera) with notable examples within the Afrotropical members of the genus Phorinia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830. The vivid colouration observed in life quickly fades to a dull golden-yellow when a specimen is dried. Although well known, no published explanation has been given for this phenomenon.