Stephen W. Paddock - Digital Image Gallery
Cell Outlines in Butterfly Wing Epithelium
The beautiful digital image presented below is a color-mapped fluorescence rendition of cell outlines in butterfly pupal wing epithelium tissue. The image was captured on a confocal laser scanning microscope and manipulated using digital image processing software.
Butterflies have two forewings and two hind wings. Strong thoracic muscles move these wings up and down in a figure-eight motion during the butterfly's graceful flight. While in flight, each pair of fore and hind wings functions together as a single unit. In most species, these couplings are made using lobes located on the hind wings. At rest, the butterfly's wings are held vertically.
