Confocal cleared L4 aphid heads: Aphids were cleared/treated after "Smolla M, Ruchty M, Nagel M, Kleineidam CJ: Clearing pigmented insect cuticle to investigate small insects' organs in situ using confocal laser-scanning microscopy (CLSM). Arthropod structure & development 2014, 43(2):175-181.", and observed on a Zeiss confocal laser scanning microscope (488 nm argon laser source), L4 nymphal instars were placed in scanning chambers with methyl salicylate. Aphids were examined using the LSM 800 CLSM with a 10x dry objective (0.40 NA) and 40s and 100x oil immersion objectives (0.7 and 0.95 NA). Optical sections of whole heads were obtained at z-steps ranging from 1 to 5 µm resulting in an x-y plane at 1024x1024 pixel resolution. Three files are provided: an original .czi Zeiss format stack, and Imaris .ims file with contoured 3D object (Retort organs and neighbouring structures), and an Imaris .tif export.