Dazzling Disguise

Dr Erica McAlister of London's Natural History Museum takes a look at some of the entomological pioneers, whose groundbreaking observations and experiments have led to some truly innovative developments.

Erica examines the huge butterfly collection of the intrepid Victorian lepidopterist Margaret Fountaine who was seduced by the iridescent nature of the morpho butterfly wing.

Its dazzling electric blues are caused not by pigments, but by interference effects within the wing structure. In the early 20th century the “father of camouflage” Abbot Thayer controversially cited iridescence as a means of disguise within the animal world as well as attracting a mate. Scientists are revisiting the idea that the best disguises are dazzling and now engineers are attempting to recreate iridescence from the insect world to generate high impact hues with multiple effects for a host of different commercial products.

With contributions from: Dr David Waterhouse, (Senior Curator of Natural History & Geology at Norfolk Museums); biologist Dr Karin Kjernsmo, (Bristol University); Andrea Hart (Library Special Collections Manager Natural History Museum); physiologist Prof Andrew Parker, (University of Oxford)

Producer: Adrian Washbourne

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2022.