Liquid crystal
This is a moth proboscis, used to suck up nectar and other liquids. The green structures are called sensilla and are the moth’s taste buds. The proboscis unrolls from beneath the labial palps when the moth wants to feed.
Imaged using scanning electron microscopy by Darren Brown, University of Queensland. This image has been colour enhanced.
Size: each sensilla is about 38 micrometres long.