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View of the dorsal section of a wasp head showing the two kidney-shaped compound eyes, the three simple eyes in between the compound eyes, and the base of the antennae. Compound eyes are made up of hundreds or thousands of individual sections, each with its own lens and sensory cells. The eyes which wrap around the head from top to bottom allow the wasp to see above, to each side, the bottom, and to the front of it. The 3-dimensional nature of the eyes protruding from the surface of the head allow some site behind the insect. Compound eyes do not focus well, but the large number of individual units are excellent for picking up movement. The brain integrates all the visual input and makes "sense" of it and causes the insect to take the appropriate behavior. The simple eyes consist of one unit each and are designed to detect changes in light. They appear to be responsible for detecting changes in the daily photocycle (simple eyes are shown in greater detail in the previous image)

Side view of a carpenter ant, Camponotus pennsylvanicus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). One good way to differentiate an ant from a termite is to look at the antennae. If they are "elbowed" or bent in the middle, as in this image, it's an ant. If you have something that looks like an ant but has straight antennae, more likely it's a termite.

Wasp 2

Broad-winged damselfly, Calopteryx maculata (Odonata: Calopterygidae) sitting on the tip of a fern leaf. This is also called an ebony jewelwing because of the bright metallic blue-green body parts. This is a female as indicated by the light brown wings and the white spots (stigmata) near their distal ends. The males have solid, black wings

Ventral abdominal view of a female backswimmer (Hemiptera: Notonectidae) showing long lateral hairs that rest on the water's surface tension (upper left) and keep the insect above the water. While outside the water, air enters the spaces between the densly-packed hairs on the abdomen. This provides oxygen for the backswimmer to remain underwater while searching for prey.

Blow fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Front view of a blow fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Antenna ball & socket articulation in long-horn beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). The bubbled-like structure that surrounds the socket is the beetle's compound eye

Greenhead fly, Tabanus nigrovittatus (Diptera: Tabanidae)

Spiracle (lower center; opening that lets oxygen into the tracheal system) and haltere (upper right; orange knob-shaped organ that helps balance the insect in flight) on the thorax of Tabanus nigrovittatus (Diptera: Tabanidae). Dark brown horizontal structures at top are the wings.

Leafhopper (Homoptera: Cicadellidae)

Wasp b

Black swallowtail larva, Papilio polyxenes (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) on fennel

Simple eyes located on top of this wasp's head, between the multi-faceted compound eyes. The next image shows their location a bit more clearly. The simple eyes cannot focus but do detect changes in light intensity, as occurs during sundown and sunup. This triggers the insect's activity patterns - eg some insects are active at night, while others, during the day. Note the sensory hairs just below the lens of each eye.

Lucy and the long-horn

Midge (Diptera: Chironomidae) showing plumose antennae characteristic of the male. The feathery antennae provide a tremendous surface area for sensors that are able to detect minute amounts of chemicals produced by the females. Apparently there also are sensors that can detect vibrations in the air produced from wing movements of the female. Both are critical to finding a mating partner. This specimen is about 7 mm long. Midges resemble mosquitoes but do not bite. Midge larvae are similar to mosquito larvae and form an important part of the aquatic food chain.

Tiger beetle (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae), member of a group noted for its brilliant metallic colors. The adult is a potent predator as indicated by the deadly overlapping mandibles

Ventral view of a small fly about 2-3 mm long

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