The difference in hunting behavior may be linked to the placement of the insects’ eyes. Jewel wings’ eyes are on either side of the head, facing forward. “Both eyes work together as a continuous panorama,” said Dr. Gonzalez-Bellido of such dragonflies. To look closer at the neurons linking vision and flight, the researchers equipped jewel wings with sensors and showed them a video of a moving dot, comparing it with earlier dragonfly research. Jewel wings best see what’s right in front of them, they found, while dragonflies’ clearest vision is just above them.

Source: New York Times January 28, 2020 17:37 UTC