Compound Eye Collection (#8)

Scarlet dragonfly (Crocothemis erythraea) dragonfly on a plant stalk. Photographed in Italy

Ruddy darter dragonfly
Ruddy darter. Close-up of a male ruddy darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) dragonfly on a plant stalk. Photographed in Umbria, Italy, in summer

Moth head, SEM
Moth head, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). The head is dominated by the large compound eyes (one seen, pink). Two antennae are mounted on the top of the head

Carpet beetle, SEM
Carpet beetle (family Dermestidae), coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Two compound eyes (green) are seen, with a pair of antennae between them

Arthropod anatomy, artwork
Arthropod anatomy. Computer artwork showing the main structures and organs of a typical arthropod (legs not shown). For the labelled diagram see image: C008/8720

Froghopper, SEM
Froghopper. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the underside of the head of a froghopper (superfamily Cercopoidea)

Bedbug head, SEM
Bedbug head. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the head of a bedbug (Cimex sp.). Antennae are seen at top, with compound eyes (purple) at the sides of its head

Harlequin ladybird, SEM
Harlequin ladybird. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis), showing its wings (grey)

Fungus gnat head, SEM
Fungus gnat. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the head of a fungus gnat (family Sciaridae). At centre are the gnats compound eyes (brown)

Batocera rufomaculata beetle on a plant. These beetles cause major damage to fig and mango plantations. Photographed in Israel

Ladybird head, SEM
Ladybird head. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the head of a ladybird (family Coccinellidae). The compound eyes of this beetle are at left and right (blue)

Head of a shield bug, SEM
Head of a shield bug (Acanthosoma sp.), coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). This insect is also known as a stink bug for the pungent liquid it emits if disturbed

Head of a crane fly, SEM
Head of a crane fly (family Tipulidae), coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). The two compound eyes (purple) are either side of the head

Moth proboscis and eye, SEM
Moth proboscis and eye, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). The compound eye (orange) is at right. The spiral-shaped sucking proboscis (at centre)

Mutant fruit fly compound eye, SEM
Mutant fruit fly compound eye. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the abnormal compound eye of a mutant fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster)

Moth eye, SEM
Moth eye. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of numerous lenses making up the surface of a compound eye from a moth (order Lepidoptera). These lenses are called ommatidia

Weevil, SEM
Weevil, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). The weevils head is at upper left, with one of the compound eyes seen, along with both antennae

Weevil head, SEM
Weevil head, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). One of the large compound eyes is at upper right, and one of the antennae is at centre

Polar shrimp. Close-up of the head of a polar shrimp (Lebbeus polaris), showing its compound eye (upper left) and translucent shell

Hoverfly head. Close-up of the head of a hoverfly (Volucella pellucens), showing its two large compound eyes and small antennae (orange) between them

Shrimp eyes. Close-up of the head of a shrimp showing its large compound eyes

Wasp head. Close-up of the head of a European wasp (Vespula germanica), showing its two large compound eyes, and its antennae (black) between them

Head of a bee, SEM
Head of a bee, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). The bees compound eyes (one at upper left, red), one antenna (pointing downwards to left of eye), some of the mouthparts (below eye)

Winged ant, SEM
Winged ant, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Winged ants develop after an ant colony has been established for several years

Compound eye of wasp, SEM
Compound eye of wasp, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). This is the eye of a digger wasp (family: Sphecidae). The eye consists of hundreds of individual structures called ommatidia

Compound eye of a gnat, SEM
Compound eye of a gnat. Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the surface of a compound eye from a fungus gnat (suborder Nematocera). The eye consists of many rounded lenses known as ommatidia

Common wasp head, SEM
Common wasp (Vespula vulgaris) head, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). The antennae are seen on the top of the head, between the two large compound eyes

Mosquito larva, light micrograph
Mosquito larva. Polarised light micrograph of the body of a larva of an Anopheles sp. mosquito. The larva lies parallel to the waters surface

Gnat, light micrograph
Gnat (Culex pipiens), light micrograph. The gnats body has three major parts: the abdomen, thorax and head. The abdomen is at upper centre

Beetle compound eye, light micrograph
Beetle compound eye. Polarised light micrograph of a portion of the compound eye of a great diving beetle (Dytiscus sp.), showing the massed circular lenses of the simple eyes, the ommatidia

Gnat head, light micrograph
Gnat head. Light micrograph of the head (lower left), antennae (upper left), proboscis (lower right) and other mouthparts of a gnat (Culex pipiens)

Cockroachs head, light micrograph
Cockroachs head. Light micrograph of the head and mouthparts of the American cockroach (Periplaneta orientalis). The head consists of two hemispherical compound eyes (top centre)

Backswimmers head, light micrograph
Backswimmers head. Light micrograph of the head and mouthparts of the backswimmer (Notonecta sp.), also known as the greater water boatman

Ground Beetle - UK
SPH-1104 Ground Beetle UK Notiophilus biguttatus Steve Hopkin Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

A close up of a flies eye
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

A close up of a fly
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

A close up of a female dragon fly laying eggs
Ashley Cooper / SpecialistStock

Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM): Honeybee, Magnification x 30 (A4 size: 29. 7 cm width)
LRDS-70 Honeybee Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM) Apis mellifera Magnification x 30 (A4 size: 29.7 cm width) Coloured by hand to enhance natural features

Soldier Fly Head-on portrait Huge compound eyes
SPH-3164 Soldier FLY - close-up of compound eyes UK Stratomys chameleon Steve Hopkin Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

Hoverfly Large compound eyes, UK. Fam: Syrphidae
SPH-1552 Hoverfly - Large compound eyes UK Diptera sp. Fam: Syrphidae Steve Hopkin Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

Flesh Fly - sucking up liquid from leaf Norfolk UK
FEU-226 Flesh Fly - sucking up liquid from leaf Norfolk, UK Sarcophaga carnaria Geoff du Feu Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

Hover Fly - on Red Petal Norfolk UK
FEU-220 Hoverfly - on red petal Norfolk, UK Tropidia scita Geoff du Feu Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

Hover Fly - resting on flower petal Norfolk UK
FEU-218 Hoverfly - resting on flower petal Norfolk, UK Tabanus sp. Geoff du Feu Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

Hover Fly - showing head and eyes Norfolk UK
FEU-216 Hoverfly - showing head and eyes Norfolk, UK Tabanus sp. Geoff du Feu Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

Drone Fly - showing Eye
FEU-208 Drone Fly - showing eye Eristalis tenax Geoff du Feu Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

Hover Fly - showing snout Norfolk UK
FEU-201 Hoverfly - showing snout Norfolk, UK Rhingia campestris Geoff du Feu Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

Hover Fly - showing head and eyes Norfolk UK
FEU-217 Hoverfly - showing head and eyes Norfolk, UK Tabanus sp. Geoff du Feu Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

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The compound eye, a marvel of nature's engineering, is a fascinating feature found in various insects. Take the fruit fly for instance, as seen through the lens of an SEM Z340 / 0768. Magnified at x300 on an A4 size frame, its compound eye reveals intricate details that captivate our imagination. But it's not just the fruit fly that showcases this incredible structure. The Culex mosquito and red-barbed ant also possess compound eyes that have been meticulously examined under scanning electron micrographs (SEM). These images provide us with glimpses into their world, where vision takes on a whole new dimension. Moving on to the head of a honey bee captured by another SEM image, we witness how these tiny creatures rely heavily on their compound eyes for navigation and finding nectar-rich flowers amidst vast landscapes, and is truly remarkable how such small organisms can possess such complex visual systems. And let's not forget about other species like the hornet mimic hoverfly or even mosquitoes themselves. Their internal anatomy has been revealed through cross-sections and SEM images showcasing their feeding habits - including blood-sucking from human skin. Zooming back in to focus solely on flies, we encounter yet another stunning view of a house fly's compound eye magnified at x40 using SEM technology. This close-up view allows us to appreciate the intricate arrangement of individual lenses called ommatidia which make up this unique visual organ. With beekeeping being an essential practice worldwide, understanding the compound eye becomes crucial in managing beehives effectively. By comprehending how bees perceive their surroundings through these specialized organs, beekeepers can ensure optimal conditions for honey production and colony health. Finally returning to our initial subject - the fruit fly - we delve deeper into its microscopic world with another SEM image (Z340 / 0699).