Iridescence+in+Insect+Wings

=Diamonds in the Sunlight: Iridescence in Insect Wings=

If we explore our insect wings under the microscope against a light background we get beautiful patterns of veins BUT if we explore them on a dark background a rainbow of colours are revealed!

 * [[image:1-P1400388.JPG width="424" height="305"]] || [[image:allencentre/1-20150725_170108941.jpg width="419" height="296"]] || [[image:1-6-20150725_170003952.jpg width="407" height="315"]] ||  ||
 * [[image:allencentre/3-20150725_165552269.jpg width="420" height="302"]] || [[image:4-20150725_165522731.jpg width="418" height="299"]] || [[image:5-20150725_163043871.jpg width="405" height="297"]] ||  ||
 * [[image:allencentre/prism.png width="424" height="154"]]

the light into beautiful colours. This bending is called refraction.
|| ||  ||   || =Build a Model of an Insect's Wing=
 * [[image:Wing Veins.png width="342" height="156" align="center"]]

of iridescence as an identification aid.
||

helps the insect sense its wing position in flight.
|| An insect's wing under a microscope against a light and dark background. ||
 * [[image:3-P1400356.JPG width="387" height="338"]]

prisms which sparkle in the sunlight to help insects find each other.
||

to build and marvel at the structures in a wing.
|| ==Building the Wing==

**6 Veins in order from the leading edge of the wing:**

 * 1) ====Vein 1:Costa (unbranched)====
 * 2) ====Vein 2:Subcosta (unbranched)====
 * 3) ====Vein 3: Radius (branched)====
 * 4) ====Vein 4: Media (branched)====
 * 5) ====Vein 5: Cubitus (branched====
 * 6) ====Vein 6: Anal (unbranched)====

**Down each main vein poke:**

 * ====a trachea (carries oxygen)====
 * ====a nerve (registers what the wing is doing in flight)====

Pterostigma ( the heavier dark spot used in flight manoeuvres)
||
 * [[image:4-P1400364.JPG width="388" height="297" align="center"]] || [[image:allencentre/5-P1400367.JPG width="384" height="326" align="center"]] || [[image:allencentre/6-P1400369.JPG width="402" height="299" align="center"]] ||