Figure 4. Reflection spectra of the white scales.

(a–b) The measured spectra for Cyphochilus and L. stigma scales, respectively, reveal the whiteness of a single scale which extends to the near-infrared. The dashed lines are predictions from equation 2 (R = 1 − T). The mean free path used in equation 2 is calculated by modelling the chitin continuous random network with a distribution of particle havening different shape and orientations: only spheres, spheres and rods randomly oriented in space, and spheres and rods with a random in-plane orientation (no vertically oriented rods are present).