Tapered drone fly

[Paul Iddon]

Eristalis pertinax.

Often attracted to my variegated laurel shrub in the garden.

Paul.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Extraordinary! Nature is brilliant!

I imagine you could do focus stacking!

Asher

 

[Asher Kelman]

What is that midline structure? Is it decorative or functional?

In front a similar structure is the base for antennae.

Asher

 

[Jerome Marot]

These are eyes. Insects usually have two compounds eyes and three simpler eyes, called ocelli.

 

[Asher Kelman]

These are eyes. Insects usually have two compounds eyes and three simpler eyes, called ocelli.

Thanks for reminding me!

I wonder whether the images from the compound eye are made sharper by computational correction as cameras can do with imperfect lenses?

Asher

 

[Paul Iddon]

I think the 3 simple eyes may see light perhaps more than structure?

Paul.

 

[Asher Kelman]

I think the 3 simple eyes may see light perhaps more than structure?

Paul.

Perhaps for orientation or for seeing shadows of predators.

From the optical resolution consideration, resolution of images is said not to be too great! But I wonder why nature can’t do what we do: Ray trace, reconstruct knowing optical faults and recompute the image to a sharper version?

Asher

 

[Jerome Marot]

And how could we find out whether this is the case or not? We can't really ask insects to tell us what they see.

 

[Paul Iddon]

And how could we find out whether this is the case or not? We can't really ask insects to tell us what they see.

How do you think I get mine to pose so gracefully?

I am "The Bug Whisperer"

Seriously, I don't know how these naturalist scientists can work anything out.

Paul.