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)

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)