Low power digital microscopes are used for many applications. There is a wide variety of these types of microscopes to choose from. One of the branches of science that really benefit from microscopes such as these is entomology when users try to identify insects as a hobby or even professionally. There are many other uses for this microscope but the focus will be mainly on insect identification.
Low power microscopes typically have a magnification of 7-45x using a 10x magnification of the ocular or eyepiece. Extra accessories may be added to enhance and increase the magnification of such microscopes.
Digital low power microscopes are available that have functions that makes focusing easier and more accurate. These digital microscopes are also equipped with cameras that make you automatically take a picture of the image or specimen viewed in the microscope. Some digital low power microscopes are even equipped with web cams and USB hubs for you to view and capture videos of the specimen and save it in USB storage device that will make you access your images and videos in your PC.
Teachers in biology have been taking advantage of these digital microscopes to show their students plant and insect specimens as part of their lessons. It is certainly a good tool for teaching and learning.
What could be great with digital low power microscopes is that they are all-in-one. Aside from it being able to be directly plugged into the USB port of any PC, the magnification can be adjusted just like zooming in with a camera. That makes it easier to look into the tiny parts of an insect making identification easier.
Entomologists and insect enthusiasts may be able to find really tiny insects on plant leaves or even stalks. Sometimes, identification can be a problem because of their size. The only solution is to use a microscope. Low power microscopes can already do the job but using a digitized one can make the experience more exciting as you take shots of the different body parts and record what you have viewed. The great thing is you can even watch these little insects in motion. A video add-on will be great to see those tiny movements.
What is the importance of identifying insects in different environments? For entomologists, insects that thrive in certain habitats will determine the quality of the environment where they live. That is because species of insects thrive only in habitats that offer the optimum conditions.
Another great advantage in using digital low power microscopes in insect identification is your capability of viewing different forms of the insect at different stage of its life cycle. Larvae, eggs, immature and mature forms can be seen quite clearly making you know what stage the insect is in.
To aide you in identifying insects, microscopy is coupled with an insect identification guide that will show pictures of many insects in full color. If insect identification is your hobby, then what you have to know are the basics of the procedure.
First thing that you have to do is to sort all the insects you have collected into different morphospecies using your low power digital microscope. If you are viewing dead species, the insects should be submerged in ethanol to preserve the DNA. When the insects are not in use, keep them submerged in ethanol in a freezer.
The second step is to start identifying the insects. You may use a guide as mentioned earlier or you can use and on-line identification key. This can be tedious so make sure you limit your search to the particular family of the insect you are trying to identify.
To help you further in the identification of the insect with a microscope, it would be good to have questions listed down that you will answer to narrow your search. Questions dealing with the presence or absence of an exoskeleton; the number of legs; the texture; etcetera. If it is wormlike, stop because it is not an insect. Also if it has legs less than or more than six, it is not an insect. Questions such as these will help you narrow your search for the exact name of the species you are trying to identify.
For amateurs and professionals, insect collection can be fun. But not being able to identify the little creatures can be frustrating. All it takes to be an expert in insect identification is to have the right tool like a low power digital microscope, have guide questions ready, have an identification key and know the basic steps in microscopy. Now, off you go! You will surely be ready for an adventure with those tiny creatures.
For more information, visit http://www.digitallowpowermicroscope.com
