A New Method for Quantifying Color of Insects

We describe a method to quantify color in complex patterns on insects, using a combination of standardized illumination and image analysis techniques. Two color comparisons were investigated: (1) the percentage of blue in the submarginal band of the hindwing in yellow and dark morph females of Papil...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Florida entomologist 2011-06, Vol.94 (2), p.201-207
Main Authors: Lehnert, Matthew S, Balaban, Murat O, Emmel, Thomas C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Butterflies
butterfly comparison
Cameras
Color
color analysis
color quantification
Colors
Computer programs
Computer software
digital image
digital images
Entomology
Evolution
females
Glaucus
Identification and classification
Illumination
Image analysis
Image processing
Insects
lighting
new methods
Papilio glaucus
Physiological aspects
Pixels
Quantification
Research Papers
software
Tigers
Wings
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Summary:We describe a method to quantify color in complex patterns on insects, using a combination of standardized illumination and image analysis techniques. Two color comparisons were investigated: (1) the percentage of blue in the submarginal band of the hindwing in yellow and dark morph females of Papilio glaucus L., and (2) the percentage of orange hues in the wings of 2 putative subspecies of Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, P. g. glaucus L. and P. g. maynardi Gauthier. Live specimens were photographed in a light-box with standardized lighting and a color standard. Digital images were processed in LensEye® software to determine the percentage of selected colors. No significant differences were found in the percentage of blue between yellow and dark morph females, but the percentage of orange hues between P. g. glaucus and P. g. maynardi differed significantly. Color quantification can be a useful tool in studies that require color analysis.
ISSN:0015-4040
1938-5102
DOI:10.1653/024.094.0212