Introduction to Foldscope & Magnified Mosquitoes

Aug 23, 2016 • 8:45 AM UTC

MM86+F5 Mentor, OH, USA

140x Magnification

Insects and Arachnids

RebeccaKonte

Scientific artist, using art as a tool for scientific storytelling. http://www.rebeccakonte.com/

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Hello Foldscope Community!
I am thrilled to join this group of microcosmos explorers. In this post I will share some results from my first experience using Foldscope. However, before I get into what I found, I would like to thank Manu Prakash for his kindness & generosity in introducing me to Foldscope and this wonderful world of little discoveries!
My Findings:
I collected a seemingly mundane mosquito off a windowsill. To the naked eye, it may read as just a speck of color– a crumpled little beige form. However, a look through the Foldscope tells a much more interesting story. Up close you can see its anatomy is compact and complex.
I took photos of the mosquito’s antenna, abdominal segments, wing, and leg.

antenna

abdominal segments

wing

leg (femur and tibia)

lateral head paired with drawing
Lastly, I included a lateral photo of the mosquito’s head. Since illustration is an important part of my life, I thought it would be fun to pair this photo with a quick drawing I made to highlight what I saw. As emphasized by the drawing’s arrow, I especially like the upright tuft of bristles on top of the mosquito’s head!
I look forward to improving my ability to observe, photograph, and explore through Foldscope.
On a related note, I found the Stanford Tardigrade Project ’s post “How to Find Tardigrades (Water Bears) in Your Own Backyard” very inspiring! I collected some mossy samples in the hopes of finding some tardigrades myself… If I do find any new micro-friends, I’ll be sure to post it.
Thanks!
Rebecca Konte