Little and Large by danob

Photography • Insects • posted on Feb 19, 2009

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Description

The eyes of butterflies are large spherical structures. These are compound eyes consisting of thousands of hexagonal shaped omatidea. Each omatidea, or miniscule sensor, is directed at a slightly different angle from the others. Collectively they are directed in every direction -- up, down, forwards, backwards, left and right. Because of this, butterflies are able to see in virtually every direction simultaneously. There is a price to pay for having an exceedingly small brain and omnivision. Butterflies cannot focus their vision as what they see is at best a blur. Furthermore, they are sensitive to only the three most basic features of vision which would be light, colour and motion. Butterflies can distinguish night from day. They might distinguish colour along a very narrow band of the light spectrum. Hence a butterfly might see and feed from the nectar of a purple flower but be oblivious to the red flower nearby. Butterflies are also sensitive to movement. When you try to sneak up to photograph a butterfly it won't think, "Here comes Danny boy again". It would however be aware that something big out there is moving, getting closer and it's time to fly.

Comments (44)

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adrie

12:08PM | Thu, 19 February 2009

Very beautiful macro shot, love butterflys....excellent done.

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flora-crassella

12:10PM | Thu, 19 February 2009

very beautiful butterflies!!!! Fantastic photo!!!!!

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eldana07

12:18PM | Thu, 19 February 2009

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Flannelman

12:20PM | Thu, 19 February 2009

Cool info. I have found that very slow works (sometimes). Nice capture. ;-)

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virginiese

12:23PM | Thu, 19 February 2009

lovely capture. Thanks for the information too !

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lyron

12:26PM | Thu, 19 February 2009

Wonderful image!!!

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Hendesse

12:38PM | Thu, 19 February 2009

Wonderful colors and fantastic details. Excellent shot and thanks for the informations too.

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timtripp

12:41PM | Thu, 19 February 2009

superb image.... well worth the zoom.

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DennisReed

12:53PM | Thu, 19 February 2009

Lovely capture!

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decie

1:10PM | Thu, 19 February 2009

very nice shot and you were lucky to get them so close, is that the cowslip that they are on? thanks for the info on them I never knew the had poor sight.

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schonee

1:15PM | Thu, 19 February 2009

I Love it! Looks like Lantana flowers to me Decie

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CavalierLady

1:45PM | Thu, 19 February 2009

Beautiful, Danny, and it must have been difficult to capture two at the same time! One wonders how the scientists know just for sure how good/poor their vision is!

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