Optical Diversity and Nanostructural Organization in the Colored Scales of Sternotomis

ABSTRACT Many longhorn beetles display vibrant color patterns that arise from a combination of pigmentary absorption and light interference with photonic structures within nanostructured scales. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the optical properties of the colored scales in 22 species of the genus Sternotomis (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Sternotomini; Percheron, 1836) using reflectance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS). While individual species of this genus have been studied in detail, a systematic comparison of optical signatures and underlying photonic architectures across the entire genus has been lacking. The diversity of color‐producing mechanisms within the genus reveals significant variations in scale structuring and pigment colors, accompanied by noticeable changes in local nanostructural motifs. This study establishes a spectral–structural framework for understanding controlled disorder in biological photonic materials and lays the groundwork for research on the development of biological photonic systems with controlled disorder and diverse optical properties.