Alignement and phylogenetic tree of 106 Lepidoptera

We used both published and de novo sequences from one
mitochondrial gene and seven nuclear genes, representing a
total length of 7433 bp to infer a molecular phylogeny for 106
lepidopteran species. Müllerian mimicry is a positive interspecific
interaction, whereby co-occurring defended prey species share a common
aposematic signal. In Lepidoptera, aposematic species typically harbour
conspicuous opaque wing colour patterns with convergent optical properties
among co-mimetic species. Surprisingly, some aposematic mimetic species
have partially transparent wings, raising the questions of whether optical
properties of transparent patches are also convergent, and of how
transparency is achieved. Here we conducted a comparative study of wing
optics, micro and nanostructures in neotropical mimetic clearwing
Lepidoptera, using spectrophotometry and microscopy imaging. We show that
transparency, as perceived by predators, is convergent among co-mimics.
Underlying micro- and nanostructures are also convergent despite a large
structural diversity. We reveal that while transparency is primarily
produced by microstructure modifications, nanostructures largely influence
light transmission, maybe enabling additional fine-tuning in transmission
properties. This study shows that transparency might not only enable
camouflage but can also be part of aposematic signals.