Africa Wild

Excellent question, Sis. Hm-m-m-m, can anyone shed some light on this?

Also interesting is that pedestrian insects such as worker ants don't have ocelli. Many flying insects do have ocelli, but others, such as most beetles and butterflies don't.

Sis, you are giving the answer away

Lisbeth wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:35 am Sis, you are giving the answer away

If still no guesses today, maybe you can 'splain it to us, Sis.

They see other colour spectrums?

ExFmem wrote: ↑Wed Aug 12, 2020 10:42 pm some light

Exactly, PJL


Most insect species have two types of eyes, simple and compound. A simple eye, which is referred to as ocello (singular) and ocelli (plural), is a small eye that is made of just one lens. Compound eyes are the larger eyes that can be seen bulging on either side of an insect’s head. These eyes contain many small lenses, sometimes thousands. Adult insects have one set of compound eyes, but many people fail to take note of the three ocelli located in a triangular formation on the top of an insect’s head. Insects that undergo a complete metamorphosis, like butterflies, beetles and flies, are born only with ocelli and no compound eyes. For these insects, compound eyes become fully developed in adulthood. Insects that undergo incomplete metamorphosis, like grasshoppers, stink bugs, dragonflies and mayflies, have both ocelli and compound eyes during their nymphal stage and into adulthood. The ocelli perceive light and movement, while compound eyes provide a general, but not detailed, panoramic picture of the surrounding environment. Most parasitic insects, such as fleas, have only ocelli and no compound eyes, as their tiny environment makes compound eyes unnecessary.

Have you ever noticed a triangular pattern of tiny eyes on the top of an insect’s head?


The three ocelli of a dragonfly

INSECTS WITH BOTH COMPOUND AND SIMPLE (OCELLI) EYES