# The actin cytoskeleton plays multiple roles in structural colour formation in butterfly wing scales

*PRI Rank #11 · Topics and Trends in Most Cited Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy Papers, Class of 2026*

*Canonical URL: https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/lepidoptera-biology-and-taxonomy/2026/rank-11*

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Rank | #11 |
| 18m citations | 14 |
| Journal | Nature Communications |
| Year | 2024 |
| DOI | 10.1038/s41467-024-48060-3 |
| Corresponding authors | Victoria J. Lloyd, Nicola J. Nadeau, Andrew J. Parnell |
| Institution | University of Sheffield, United Kingdom |

**Ranking page:** [Topics and Trends in Most Cited Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy Papers, Class of 2026](https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/lepidoptera-biology-and-taxonomy/2026)

**Paper link:** [10.1038/s41467-024-48060-3](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-48060-3)

## Topics

structural colour · butterfly wing scales · photonic nanostructures · actin cytoskeleton · iridescent scales · H. sara · actin bundles · reflective ridges · super-resolution microscopy · scale development · photonic nanostructures · actin perturbation experiments · ridge patterning mechanisms · Lepidoptera · actin templating · in vivo development · light scattering

## Cite this ranking

```
Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/lepidoptera-biology-and-taxonomy/2026. Accessed 2026-10-29.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459
```