fisherwr2 > 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)
fisherwr2 > 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.
fisherwr2 > Wasp 2
fisherwr2 > 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
fisherwr2 > 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.
fisherwr2 > Front view of a blow fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae)
fisherwr2 > Blow fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae)
fisherwr2 > Antenna ball & socket articulation in long-horn beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). The bubbled-like structure that surrounds the socket is the beetle's compound eye
fisherwr2 > Greenhead fly, Tabanus nigrovittatus (Diptera: Tabanidae)
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)
fisherwr2 > 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)
See photo in original gallery.

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