Just out: VoR of our novel cost-benefit analysis of eye design. Applied to simple and compound eyes, discovers that photoreceptor costs shape design of entire eye, explains why diurnal insects have world's longest photoreceptors, and revises scaling of acuity with eye size. doi.org/10.7554/eLif...

Investments in photoreceptors compete with investments in optics to determine eye design

Allocating space, materials and energy to an eye's optics and photoreceptor array is a major factor in eye design that explains obvious differences between simple eyes and compound eyes.

doi.org

Flight overlays from a mass dispersal of what I think are Hylastes sp. bark beetles. I'm always fixated watching when the light catches just right, and you can see how complicated insect airspace is.

Happy #worldrobberflyday to some of the very best flies you can find. Robberflies are wonderfully effective predators, with some even catching dragonflies. They combine remarkable vision, rapid reactions, and fast acting venom. Every #robberfly is a treat to find.

Older than the dinosaurs: scientists finally unlock secret of the mayfly’s dance New article in @theguardian.com on research by @stfabian.bsky.social 👇 www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Older than the dinosaurs: scientists finally unlock secret of the mayfly’s dance

The bizarre vertical flight pattern has long puzzled experts but new research reveals why it may play a crucial role in the insect’s survival

theguardian.com

🧵 1/6 Our new paper is out in Journal of Experimental Biology! We've been studying the curious dancing flight of male mayflies and why they do it. Spoiler: it's not just to impress females. 🪲⬇️ journals.biologists.com/jeb/article-...

I've wanted to see one of these for years. Mantispids are glorious, especially in banana yellow.

The remarkable wings of Ryothemis fuliginosa, the butterfly dragonfly. While most of the time they look a dark black, they shimmer with iridescence when viewed from above. Males display this iridescence to eachother by swooping below their rival when fighting.