Light micrograph of the compound eye of a bluebottle fly, Calliphora vomitoria. As with other insects, the fly's compound eye is composed of a large n


Light micrograph of the compound eye of a bluebottle fly, Calliphora vomitoria. As with other insects, the fly's compound eye is composed of a large number of individual facets or \ommatidia\". Each facet sends a signal to the brain, which then constructs a mosaic view of the world. The image is poorly focused but good at detecting movements. The resolution of the movement that can be detected depends on the number of ommatidia. A bluebottle has 5000 ommatidia, a dragonfly 30,000. Magnification: x400 at 35mm size."


Size: 5558px × 3809px
Photo credit: © POWER AND SYRED/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, bluebottle, calliphora, compound, eye, facet, fly, insect, insecta, invertebrate, invertebrates, nature, ommatidia, vomitoria, wildlife, zoology