Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) is a new technique for visualizing miniscule, complex, phylogenetically informative, diagnostic structures in insects. Images from the CLSM can be used to generate three-dimensional objects in computer models that can be fully rotated and that can reveal more complimentary information about structures and their articulations than either bright field microscopy or scanning electron microscopy alone. The images and objects rendered with the CLSM provide a greater accuracy and less subjectivity than artists’ illustrations. Representative taxa are sampled from various insect orders to explore the applicability of the technique. Insect external and internal structures (preferably less than 200 microns thick) are placed on “sandwich” slides similar to the procedures used for bright field microscopy. Slide mounting techniques and three-dimensional reconstruction methods are compared and discussed.