Compound eyes

Adult insects see through compound eyes, eyes made of many hundreds of sections which form a honeycomb pattern.

The eyes of large Dragonflies have over 20,000 separate sections.

 

Eye 1000x. Courtesy: Bath University.

 

 

This photo taken through a microscope shows some of the sections on the compound eye of an insect.

 

 

 

Owl Butterfly head detail showing proboscis and sensory palps. Photo: John Bebbington FRPS

 

 

 

Look at the amazing eyes of this tropical Owl Butterfly! Its proboscis is unwound below its head.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compound eyes give an insect large numbers of small images which build up into a complete but rather vague picture, rather like the dots on a photo in a newspaper. Try looking at a view through a large bunch of drinking straws - this may be similar to the picture the compound eyes produce.

Insects are much better at seeing movement than detail. This helps them defend themselves from moving predators.

 

Fritillary caught by Crab Spider. Photo: Janos Toth

 

If the predators are cunning like these Crab Spiders, hiding in wait motionless, and beautifully camouflaged on flowers, then Butterflies are easy to ambush. This spider has caught a Spotted Fritillary.

 

 

 

 

Spider killing Marbled White. Photo: Kelly Thomas.

 

 

This spider has caught a Marbled White butterfly on a Knapweed flower.

 

Did you see the spiders without looking closely? The butterflies didn't!

 

 

 

 

Striped Hawk-moth. Photo: Nigel Spring.

 

 

This Striped Hawk-moth is a very strong flier and regularly arrives in the UK from southern Europe, even Africa. Look at its huge eyes.

 

 

 

 

Larval head to show anatomy

 

 

Look at this diagram of a caterpillar's head. Caterpillars do not have compound eyes; instead they have ‘simple eyes’ or ocelli.

 

 

 

 

To find out more about compound eyes, click here.