Pigmentation and color pattern diversity in Odonata.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Okude, Genta; Futahashi, Ryo
- Source
- Current Opinion in Genetics & Development. Aug2021, Vol. 69, p14-20. 7p.
- Subject
- *ODONATA
*PIGMENT analysis
*INSECT flight
*DAMSELFLIES
*COLORS
*DRAGONFLIES
*ADULTS
- Language
- ISSN
- 0959-437X
[Display omitted] • Examples of pigments and waxes associated with coloration in Odonata are reviewed. • Genes involved in the biosynthesis pathway of three major pigments in Odonata are summarized. • The mechanism of light-blue pigmentation due to pteridine and ommochrome granules is presented. The order Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) comprises diurnal insects with well-developed vision, showing diverse colors in adult wings and bodies. It is one of the most ancestral winged insect groups. Because Odonata species use visual cues to recognize each other, color patterns have been investigated from ecological and evolutionary viewpoints. Here we review the recent progress on molecular mechanisms of pigmentation, especially focused on light-blue coloration. Results from histology and pigment analysis showed that ommochrome pigments on the proximal layer and pteridine pigments on the distal layer of the epidermis are essential for light-blue coloration. We also summarize genes involved in the biosynthesis of three major insect pigments conserved across insects and discuss that gene-functional analysis deserves future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]