The mechanistic origin of amber pigmentation of Perithemis tenera (Say, 1840) wings (Odonata: Libellulidae) and its function in conspecific signalling

Abstract

Animal coloration serves various signaling and non-signaling functions. In damselflies and dragonflies (Odonata), such colors may not only play photoprotective and/or thermoregulatory roles but also serve as visual signals during courtship and/or agonistic interactions. Here, we analyzed the coloration of Perithemis tenera wings, a potential secondary sexual ornament, applying spectrophotometry and visual modeling to gain a deeper understanding of their color mechanisms and functions. The amber coloration of the P. tenera wings results from the interaction of light with both the melanized chitin matrix and possibly ommochrome pigments. Additionally, by fitting the absorbance curve of P. tenera wings to the extinction coefficient of different melanins, we deduced that pheomelanin is likely the pigment embedded in the wing’s chitinous matrix. The amber coloration of P. tenera wings stands out against their natural habitat, making it detectable by conspecifics. Finding multiple pigments in the P. tenera wings not only enhances our understanding of the functional roles of pigmentation in Odonata but also offer broader insights into how structural and pigment-based colorations evolve as multifunctional traits.