Semi-transparent insect wings are difficult to image using unaided brightfield optical microscopy. The images below compare performance of the Intel Play QX3 Computer Microscope with and without the aid of an organized cone of illumination from a substage condenser containing an aperture diaphragm. These photomicrographs are unretouched and were captured with the QX3 interactive software.

Nobody knows how insect wings evolved, but winged insects have been flying about for at least 300 million years. Fossil evidence suggests that wings only evolved once in the insect lineage. Insect wings develop as paired outgrowths from the thorax, stiffened by ribs, or veins, which are innervated by tracheae.

The images above were recorded using the Intel Play QX3 microscope in transmitted brightfield mode. On the top is a digital image from a stock QX3 microscope using auxiliary illumination provided by a fiber optic light pipe through a hole drilled into the mixing chamber. The image on the bottom was recorded using the QX3 microscope body and a Nikon achromatic substage condenser with low numerical aperture.

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