Pterostigma
This is the Pterostigma on the forewing of a paper wasp, likely Polistes dominula (an invasive species). This region of the wing appears to have a higher hair density and is thicker. Its purpose is to damp vibrations in the wing at high speed.
This individual was trapped while building a nest on my house and killed using Ethyl Acetate. Whole insect fixed 24 hours in FAA (formaldehyde, acetic acid, ethyl alcohol.) Dehydrated in IPA at 35, 50, 70, 85, 95 %. Wing sections dissected under 95 % IPA and mounted directly in Euparal.
Photographed on a Nikon MS microscope in phase contrast at 100X original magnification using a Sony NEX 5N and a Leica MIKAS 1/3X adapter.
Pterostigma
This is the Pterostigma on the forewing of a paper wasp, likely Polistes dominula (an invasive species). This region of the wing appears to have a higher hair density and is thicker. Its purpose is to damp vibrations in the wing at high speed.
This individual was trapped while building a nest on my house and killed using Ethyl Acetate. Whole insect fixed 24 hours in FAA (formaldehyde, acetic acid, ethyl alcohol.) Dehydrated in IPA at 35, 50, 70, 85, 95 %. Wing sections dissected under 95 % IPA and mounted directly in Euparal.
Photographed on a Nikon MS microscope in phase contrast at 100X original magnification using a Sony NEX 5N and a Leica MIKAS 1/3X adapter.