References
Journal article
Physiological colour change in the elytra of the hercules beetle, Dynastes herculesJournal of Insect PhysiologyOctober 25, 2003
“The elytra from dry specimens of the hercules beetle, Dynastes hercules appear khaki-green in a dry atmosphere and turn black passively under high humidity levels. New scanning electron images, spectrophotometric measurements and physical modelling are used to unveil the mechanism of this colouration switch. The visible dry-state greenish colouration originates from a widely open porous layer located 3μm below the cuticle surface. The structure of this layer is three-dimensional, with a network of filamentary strings, arranged in layers parallel to the cuticle surface and stiffening an array of strong cylindrical pillars oriented normal to the surface. Unexpectedly, diffraction plays a significant role in the broadband colouration of the cuticle in the dry state. The backscattering caused by this layer disappears when water infiltrates the structure and weakens the refractive index differences.” (Rassart et al. 2008:1)
Journal article
Diffractive hygrochromic effect in the cuticle of the hercules beetle Dynastes herculesNew Journal of PhysicsMarch 12, 2008
“The visible dry-state greenish coloration originates from a open porous layer located at 3 μm below the cuticle surface. This layer has three-dimensional photonic crystal structures, which are a network of filamentary strings, arranged in layers parallel to the cuticle surface [Fig. 1d]. In dry state, nanosized holes in the layer are occupied with air (refractive index 1) but the empty holes are filled with water (refractive index 1.33) under high humidity. The change in refractive index with respect to the humidity level induces the variation in the visible color.” (Kim et al. 2010:103701-1)
Journal article
Biologically inspired humidity sensor based on three-dimensional photonic crystalsAppl. Phys. Lett.September 7, 2010
“The Hercules beetle, Dynastes Hercules [sic] L., can change the colour of its elytra—horny fore-wings—from black to greenish yellow and back again to black all within a few minutes. It does this in a way previously unknown among insects. Apart from the reversible migrations of pigment granules in the iris cells, physiological or rapidly reversible colour changes are very rare in insects. Among beetles, Coptocyclia, Aspidomorpha, and many other Cassidinae can change the colour of their elytra by varying the amount of water in the cuticle and thereby the thickness of the thin films responsible for the interference colours.” (Hinton and Jarman 1972:160)
Thanks for pointing out another relevant Function, Karel, it's been added to this strategy.
I find this quite funny because when I was in 7th grade my science teacher failed me on my science project about the color chang of dynastes tityus, she claimed it had no scientific value
I would say this is also an example of the Taxonomic Function : Process Information – Sense signals/environmental cues – Atmospheric conditions.
Thanks to Ille C. Gebeshuber for contributing this strategy. The question is, why does the Hercules beetle change color in response to humidity? A paper Ille recommended, "Diffractive hygrochromic effect in the cuticle of the hercules beetle Dynastes hercules" by Rassart et al. in New Journal of Physics 10 (2008) 033014 (14pp) gives several ideas, but then comes up with reasons why those are questionable.