Cyphochilus

Cyphochilus
For the orchid genus, see Cyphochilus (orchid).
Cyphochilus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Scarabaeidae
Subfamily: Melolonthinae
Genus: Cyphochilus
Species [1]

Cyphochilus assamensis
Cyphochilus candidus
Cyphochilus farinosus
Cyphochilus fruhstorferi
Cyphochilus oberthuri
Cyphochilus pygidialis

Cyphochilus is a genus of beetle with an unusually bright white body, occurring in Southeast Asia.[2] The beetle is a whiter colour than paper or even milk teeth. The whiteness of its body is caused by a thin layer of a highly reflective natural photonic solid in its scales.[3]

References

  1. ^ "List of scarab species". http://www.speciesaccounts.org/Scarabaeoidea.htm. 
  2. ^ "White beetle dazzles scientists". BBC News. January 18, 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6272485.stm. 
  3. ^ P. Vukusic, B. Hallam & J. Noyes (2007). "Brilliant whiteness in ultrathin beetle scales". Science 315 (5810): 348. doi:10.1126/science.1134666. PMID 17234940. http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/315/5810/348. 


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