Isabella Dula

<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="insectwing" class="wp-image-144121 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="144121" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"1.8","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 8","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1555012553","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.99","iso":"20","shutter_speed":"0.0021459227467811","title":"","orientation":"3"}' data-image-title="insectwing" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_144120/insectwing.jpeg"/>
 <figcaption>
 Insect wing fragment
 </figcaption>
</figure>

 This sample was collected from the Turtle Pond on Caltech campus on a sunny Wednesday afternoon this past week. One of the more interesting things that I spotted was what I believe to be the fragment of an insect wing, visible in the lower portion of the view on the ‘scope. Insects are apart of the Eukaryota domain. My foldscope was at a magnification of about 140x, so the wing fragment is probably only a millimeter or so long. One question I have about the image is what kind of insect this may be? A potential approach to answering this is to complete some research on the various structures of different insect wings to see if any there are any specific matches. What is likely significant is the color of the wing fragment, which is a sort of auburn shade. If anyone has any ideas, I would love to have a tip or two!

Fragment of Insect Wing

<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized">
 <img alt="pollen" class="wp-image-147878 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="147878" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"1.8","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 8","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1557349039","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.99","iso":"400","shutter_speed":"0.033333333333333","title":"","orientation":"6"}' data-image-title="pollen" height="410" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_147877/pollen.jpeg" width="547"/>
 <figcaption>
 A photo of a pollen sample taken through a foldscope.
 </figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image">
 <img alt="flower" class="wp-image-147879 gcloudimg" data-attachment-id="147879" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"1.8","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 8","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1557347476","copyright":"","focal_length":"3.99","iso":"80","shutter_speed":"0.066666666666667","title":"","orientation":"6"}' data-image-title="flower" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/microcosmosdelta.appspot.com/images/transfer_147877/flower.jpeg"/>
 <figcaption>
 The flower from which the sample was taken
 </figcaption>
</figure>

 The first image is a pollen sample taken through the foldscope. The image shows an upclose shot of the individual pollen grains that are a distinct yellow color. The sample of pollen was collected from a fallen hibiscus flower at around 8 pm on May 8, 2019 on Caltech campus. The flower from which the sample was taken is picture above. The sample was obtained from the flower by using a Q-tip and placing a small bit of pollen on a slide. The plant species of the pollen is most likely a
 
 Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
 
 . It is likely a cultivated variety that goes by the name “palm springs.” This variety is distinguished by its bright orange and yellow petals. #caltechbi1

Isabella Dula

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Fragment of Insect Wing

Pollen from a Hibiscus Flower

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Foldscope Lens Magnification