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AH_Wing of a Featherwing Beetle Ptiliidae_7395.jpg

Wing of a featherwing beetle (Ptiliidae), which are the smallest beetles in the world. The feathery wings are an adaption to the increased effective viscosity of air with such a small body size (0.3 - 4.0 millimetres). Adults and larvae are microphagous, feeding on the spores and hyphae of fungi, as well as other organic detritus. They are found in a many different habitats, including decaying wood, leaf litter and even inside ant nests. Darkfield image from antique microscope slide. Refraction interference colours can be seen in the wing hairs, which each have a fine ultrastructure that causes the effect.

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Wing of a featherwing beetle (Ptiliidae), which are the smallest beetles in the world. The feathery wings are an adaption to the increased effective viscosity of air with such a small body size (0.3 - 4.0 millimetres). Adults and larvae are microphagous, feeding on the spores and hyphae of fungi, as well as other organic detritus. They are found in a many different habitats, including decaying wood, leaf litter and even inside ant nests. Darkfield image from antique microscope slide. Refraction interference colours can be seen in the wing hairs, which each have a fine ultrastructure that causes the effect.