The Three Tenors

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 1:44 pm

Like performers on collaborative concert.

Do bugs have ocelli or stemmata? What are spots up the black eyes?

Anyone with good knowledge about insects?

Camera model Olympus SP-320
Date/time 07.10.2006/12:36:30
Exposure time 1/160 s
F-number f/7.1
ISO 64
Focal length 8 mm

Erland R.N. · Post by **Erland R.N.** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 3:20 pm

Great capture of those three together.

Yes I think these insects have three eyes between the two compount eyes, like wasps, dragonflies etc. Not sure which other insects have that, but I don't think all have them.

But to be honest I only see two in your image, and also only two on a similar insect I photographed myself. I know there is a stack photo of a bug like this on the forum, by Charles Krebs. That photo can without doubt sort out your question.

Erland

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 5:11 pm

Wonderful image

Nikola, those two bright yellow and black spots on either side of the head are more than likely ocelli. "The Three Tenors," thats funny

, great header.

Mike B in OKlahoma · Post by **Mike B in OKlahoma** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 8:22 pm

Great find, well-composed.

We discussed those ocelli quite a bit in the old forum, if you go back there and search on ocelli I think you'll find some comments about them (and photos with them). True bugs are especially likely to have them. My understanding is that they are thought to help the insects identify light and dark (perhaps to see the shadows of a large predator), but I'm not sure anyone definitely knows.

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 8:58 pm

Excellent photo Nikola. You don`t get to capture scenes like this too often. You got some nice DOF also

Charles Krebs · Post by **Charles Krebs** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:13 pm

Nikola... there are two, and some "stink bug" references I have seen do call them ocelli.
You can see them pretty good in the third picture of this post:
http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... =stink+bug

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 11:12 am

Thanks folks!

I did notice ocelli on wasps and robberfllies very often but rarely on bugs.

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 11:23 am

Charles Krebs wrote:Nikola... there are two, and some "stink bug" references I have seen do call them ocelli.
You can see them pretty good in the third picture of this post:
http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... =stink+bug

Thanks for the link Charles!

Now I remember your marvelous close-up of the shield bug.
Not only ocelli are red but part ot the shield near them also.

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 9:50 am

Ken Ramos wrote:... "The Three Tenors," thats funny , great header.

I just picked up first association.